Computer Software and Media Applications at Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University's Computer Software and Media Applications program posts surprisingly weak initial earnings of just $29,046—landing in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally. That's $18,000 below the Washington median for this program and $9,000 below the national benchmark. When competing in-state options like UW-Seattle start graduates at $47,000 and DigiPen at nearly $82,000, this program's early returns are hard to justify even at an open-admission institution.

The 25% earnings growth to $36,430 by year four offers some recovery, but graduates still trail significantly behind peers. The debt load of $23,250 is reasonable—actually below the state median—giving this program an 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's manageable in absolute terms, but it assumes graduates can bridge the substantial earnings gap over time without that deficit compounding career trajectory issues.

For Washington families, this represents a concerning value proposition in a state with strong tech employment. Unless your student has compelling reasons to attend EWU specifically, the in-state alternatives deliver substantially better initial placement. If location or admission selectivity makes EWU the practical choice, students should plan for aggressive skill-building through internships and certifications to overcome the program's weak early earnings track record.