Computer Software and Media Applications at College of Charleston

The small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates) makes these numbers unreliable, but what we can see raises questions about value. At $34,166 one year out, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the national median for software programs, landing in just the 33rd percentile nationally. The debt load of $22,750 is actually lower than the national typical for this field, but when paired with below-average earnings, it still creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67—meaning graduates owe about two-thirds of their first-year salary.

The lack of comparison data compounds the uncertainty. College of Charleston appears to be the only school in South Carolina reporting outcomes for this specific degree, so there's no state benchmark to judge against. For context, software-focused bachelor's programs at the 75th percentile nationally produce median earnings above $52,000—more than 50% higher than what we're seeing here. That gap suggests graduates may be entering lower-paying roles like basic web development or user support rather than software engineering positions.

Given the thin data and below-average outcomes, this looks risky as a four-year investment. Families considering this program should verify the actual job placement rates and titles of recent graduates, and compare carefully against computer science degrees at schools like Clemson or USC, which likely offer stronger tech recruiting pipelines even if specific outcome data isn't available here.