MAJORS · 34 OF 115 SUBFIELDS BY ROI
Is a software & media applications degree worth it?
Part of Computer and Information Sciences — see the whole category’s numbers.
On average, yes — the mean lifetime ROI is +$113,236. But the spread is the real story.
MEAN LIFETIME ROI · FREOPP 2021 · COHORT-WEIGHTED
+$113,236
across 61 bachelor’s programs · 6,760 graduates
MEDIAN GRADUATE
+$29K
MIDDLE 50% LAND BETWEEN
−$156K ⟷ +$187K
NEVER BREAK EVEN
37.1%
MEDIAN BREAK-EVEN AGE
40
ADJUSTED FOR REAL COMPLETION RATES
−$28K
IF YOU DROP OUT
−$132K
Questions
- Is a software & media applications degree worth it?
- On average yes — across 61 U.S. bachelor’s programs (FREOPP 2021, cohort-weighted), the mean lifetime ROI for Software & Media Applications is +$113,236 and the median is +$28,787. 37.1% of graduates in this field never break even on the degree. The honest answer depends heavily on the specific program and school: the middle half of graduates land between −$156,335 and +$187,373.
- How long until a software & media applications degree pays off?
- Among Software & Media Applications programs that do break even, the median graduate crosses into positive ROI at age 40 (FREOPP 2021). 37.1% of graduates in the field are in programs that never break even at all.
- Does the school matter for a software & media applications major?
- Enormously. The middle 50% of Software & Media Applications graduates span −$156,335 to +$187,373 — a +$344K spread within one major. The same field can be a strong trade at one school and a losing one at another, which is why the per-school number matters more than the field average.
↓ Download the data (CSV) · All 115 subfields with full statistics. Free to cite with attribution. · Methodology
Cite this:
LE TEEN (2026). “Software & Media Applications: lifetime ROI statistics.” Data: FREOPP 2021. https://le-teen.com/majors/software-and-media-applications