Location: Portland, OR•In-State Tuition: $5,040•Out-of-State Tuition: $10,080
Median Earnings (1yr)
$37,572
79th percentile
60th percentile in Oregon
Median Debt
$23,570
31% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.63 ManageableSample: 20 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Portland Community College graduates from this associate's program earn $37,572 in their first year—substantially above the national median of $29,081 and ranking in the 79th percentile nationally. Within Oregon's limited pool of six similar programs, this sits right at the state median, suggesting PCC delivers competitive but not exceptional results compared to local alternatives. The $23,570 in median debt translates to a manageable 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates should be able to handle their student loan payments on entry-level tech salaries.

The earnings trajectory shows steady growth to $41,639 by year four, an 11% increase that indicates these skills retain market value. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could significantly skew these numbers either direction. For context, this debt level sits in just the 16th percentile nationally—meaning most similar programs saddle students with more debt—which helps offset the concern about limited data reliability.

For families considering this program, the combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings creates a solid foundation, particularly for students who need an affordable entry point into tech careers. Just recognize these numbers may not be as stable as data from larger programs, and verify current curriculum aligns with in-demand skills in Portland's tech market.

Where Portland Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer software and media applications associates's programs nationally

Portland Community CollegeOther computer software and media applications programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Portland Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Portland Community College earns $38k — 79th percentile among computer software and media applications associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Portland Community College$37,572$41,639+11%
Dunwoody College of Technology$52,264$68,062+30%
Minneapolis Community and Technical College$38,262$48,999+28%
Valencia College$32,099$46,561+45%
Hudson Valley Community College$24,099$34,578+43%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Computer Software and Media Applications associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Portland Community CollegePortland$5,040$37,572$41,639$23,5700.63
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison$4,780$65,191—$16,6400.26
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis$25,659$52,264$68,062$20,0000.38
Minneapolis Community and Technical CollegeMinneapolis$6,128$38,262$48,999——
Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg$7,373$35,284—$17,5000.50
College of Western IdahoNampa$3,336$33,165—$9,6310.29
National Median—$29,081—$17,9370.62

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer software and media applications graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Special Effects Artists and Animators

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

$99,800/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web Developers

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Portland Community College, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 20 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.