Computer Software and Media Applications at College of Western Idaho

Among Idaho's handful of software programs, College of Western Idaho's associate degree lands squarely in the middle at the 60th percentile—but that middle is actually quite attractive. Graduates here start at $33,165 with just $9,631 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 that's far healthier than the typical software associate program nationally (which averages over $17,000 in debt).

The caveat matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. That said, the pattern looks promising—earning $4,000 above the national median while carrying roughly half the debt suggests this community college program delivers solid training without the financial burden many associate programs impose. For families in southwestern Idaho looking at tech careers, this represents a relatively low-risk entry point into software work.

The small sample size means you should talk to current students and recent graduates to verify whether these outcomes reflect a consistent pattern. But the fundamentals—moderate earnings with minimal debt—point to a program that helps students access tech jobs without creating financial stress in those critical early career years.