Location: Hammond, IN•In-State Tuition: $8,419•Out-of-State Tuition: $15,620•Admission Rate: 71%•Avg SAT: 1034
Median Earnings (1yr)
$21,532
5th percentile
25th percentile in Indiana
Median Debt
$17,750
34% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.82 ManageableSample: 20 graduates Limited data

Analysis

Something is seriously wrong with Purdue University Northwest's Computer Software and Media Applications program. Graduates earn just $21,532 in their first year—barely above poverty level and less than half what the state median predicts ($29,883). Even among Indiana's eight programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, while the flagship Purdue campus in West Lafayette produces graduates earning $38,234. Nationally, this program sits in the bottom 5% for earnings while carrying debt in the 95th percentile—a devastating combination that suggests students would be better off at nearly any alternative.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) offers some hope that these numbers might not be representative, but the pattern is too extreme to dismiss. At an 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates face nearly a full year's salary in loans for a credential that isn't opening doors in the tech industry. Compare this to Ball State or IUPUI, where similar programs likely deliver earnings closer to the state median at comparable or lower debt levels.

Before committing here, demand updated data from the school and consider every in-state alternative. If your child is set on this campus for location or other reasons, they'd be better served choosing a different major—the school's engineering or business programs may deliver far stronger outcomes than this struggling tech credential.

Where Purdue University Northwest Stands

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

Purdue University NorthwestOther computer software and media applications programs

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

Earnings Distribution

How Purdue University Northwest graduates compare to all programs nationally

Purdue University Northwest earns $22k — 5th percentile among computer software and media applications bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Indiana

Computer Software and Media Applications bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Indiana (8 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Purdue University NorthwestHammond$8,419$21,532—$17,7500.82
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$38,234$45,686$21,2500.56
National Median—$38,234—$27,0000.71

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 Purdue University Northwest, approximately 28% 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 19 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.