PlotFuture PlotFuture
PlotFuture / Majors / 11.02

What can you do with a
Computer Programming degree?

Computer Programming is modest-paying, AI is creeping in, and you would have escape routes.

Is this major worth the money?

Real graduate earnings vs. the debt you'd carry — and how long it takes to pay off.
3.3 yrs
to pay back the degree
+$32k
earnings premium vs no degree
Median earnings
$77,496
Typical debt
$31,000
4-yr net cost
$81,280
Monthly loan payment
$353/mo
If you earn:

Where this major actually leads

7 careers it opens — bar color = AI risk, tag = how hard the path is.
Information Technology Project Managersleap
AI risk 50 → 60 future · +0% demand
$129,642
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testersleap
AI risk 52 → 88 future · +10.0% demand
$102,000
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondaryleap
AI risk 24 → 51 future · +5.3% demand
$100,000
Web and Digital Interface Designersleap
AI risk 25 → 83 future · +7.0% demand
$95,247
Computer Programmersleap
AI risk 75 → 95 future · -6.0% demand
$93,836
Web Developersleap
AI risk 48 → 93 future · +7.5% demand
$80,600
Computer Network Support Specialistscommon
AI risk 29 → 63 future · +1.8% demand
$80,000
● green = AI-safe · red = AI-exposed · click any career for the full breakdown
How this is built. We take every career this major leads to (CIP→SOC official crosswalk), then join each one's real salary (BLS/DOL), AI exposure (O*NET + model), demand growth, and skill-based escape routes. ROI from College Scorecard. Every figure here is joined from official sources, not estimated.