Computer Software and Media Applications at University of Phoenix-Arizona

The University of Phoenix's software and media applications program shows exceptionally strong first-year earnings of $83,476—nearly double both the Arizona and national medians for this field. Among the four Arizona schools offering this program, it ranks at the top, though parents should note this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it less reliable than larger samples.

The major concern is what happens next: earnings drop to $57,111 by year four, a 32% decline that's unusual for tech fields where salaries typically rise with experience. This could reflect graduates moving to part-time work, career changes, or the specific job markets these alumni entered. The debt load of $44,225 is manageable against first-year earnings (about six months' salary), but becomes heavier as income drops.

The small sample size is critical here—with under 30 graduates in the dataset, a few outliers can dramatically skew the numbers. The strong first-year showing might represent just a handful of successful graduates rather than a consistent program outcome. Before committing, demand more detailed employment outcomes from the school itself: Where do graduates work? What roles do they take? Most importantly, why might earnings be declining rather than growing? Without answers to these questions, the impressive initial numbers don't tell a complete story.