Computer Software and Media Applications at University of Tulsa

A first-year salary near $38,000 for a bachelor's in software and media applications—based on what similar programs nationally produce—should prompt serious questions about whether this path makes financial sense. That figure sits at the national median for this degree, but it's surprisingly modest for software-related work in today's market, where even entry-level developers often command substantially higher salaries. The estimated $25,603 in debt compounds the concern: you're looking at roughly eight months of gross earnings to cover student loans, which isn't catastrophic but leaves little room for error if those salary projections don't materialize.

The University of Tulsa's strong academic profile (1325 average SAT) suggests capable students, which makes the modest earnings estimate all the more puzzling. One possibility: this program may blend technical skills with media and design applications in ways that lead graduates toward lower-paying creative roles rather than pure software development. Another: Oklahoma's tech job market may offer fewer high-paying opportunities than coastal hubs. Without reported data specific to this program, it's hard to know whether Tulsa's graduates actually fare better or worse than these peer-program estimates suggest.

Given the uncertainty and the relatively modest projected returns, push hard for placement data directly from the university. What companies hire these graduates? What actual job titles and salaries do they secure? The estimates suggest borderline value at best—you need real outcomes to justify the investment.