Computer Software and Media Applications at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS graduates with this software degree earn $62,018 their first year—substantially higher than Colorado's state median of $49,643 and crushing the national median of $38,234. At 60th percentile among Colorado programs (admittedly only three schools offer this degree in-state), these graduates are competing effectively in a strong tech market, and they're doing it with $26,500 in debt versus $35,653 statewide. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay off loans within half a year of pretax income.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, one or two outlier salaries could skew these numbers significantly. UCCS maintains a 97% admission rate, so this isn't a highly selective program weeding out weaker candidates. If the numbers hold across larger cohorts, you're looking at accessible training that leads to solid tech-sector employment. If they don't, the university's open-door policy means your student needs self-discipline and genuine interest in software development to succeed.

For families worried about tech career viability, the strong first-year earnings suggest local employers are hiring these graduates. The manageable debt load means even if your child takes time to find their footing professionally, they won't be crushed by payments. Just recognize you're betting on a limited data set from a program that accepts nearly everyone who applies.