Computer Programming at DigiPen Institute of Technology

DigiPen's computer programming graduates earn more than double the national median for this degree—$102,580 versus $50,242—putting them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's an exceptional outcome for a relatively accessible program with a 68% admission rate. While the school ranks at the 60th percentile within Washington state, that comparison is misleading: Washington hosts several elite tech programs, and DigiPen's earnings actually match the state median exactly. The $27,000 median debt sits comfortably below the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26 that most parents would consider excellent.

The earnings trajectory looks particularly strong, with graduates seeing nearly 20% growth from $102,580 to $122,323 over four years. This pattern suggests DigiPen's curriculum translates into real-world skills that command increasing market value. The school's focus on game and simulation programming appears to position graduates well for Seattle's thriving tech sector, where demand for specialized developers remains high.

For families evaluating this program, the numbers make a compelling case: significantly above-average starting salaries, manageable debt, and strong earnings momentum. The moderate sample size adds some uncertainty to these figures, but the margins here are large enough to inspire confidence. A student who genuinely wants to pursue programming would find strong ROI here.