Best Data Processing Schools (2026): 16 Ranked by Salary & ROI
These are the top schools offering Data Processing, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Data Processing graduate earns $34,994/yr across 16 schools.
BLS projects 8.2% employment growth for occupations in this field from 2024–2034, with approximately 31 annual job openings per related program area.
All Data Processing Programs Ranked
Click any row for full earnings projections and career path breakdown.
| # | School | TSW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Midlands Technical College
West Columbia, SC · Data Processing |
55
46–57 |
$40,012/yr | 54.1x |
| 2 |
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana
Las Cruces, NM · Data Processing |
59
53–61 |
$38,559/yr | 77.8x |
| 3 |
Southeast New Mexico College
Carlsbad, NM · Data Processing |
64
57–66 |
$38,559/yr | 154.6x |
| 4 |
New Mexico State University-Grants
Grants, NM · Data Processing |
60
54–62 |
$38,559/yr | 84.7x |
| 5 |
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC · Data Processing |
53
44–56 |
$39,062/yr | 48.3x |
| 6 |
Horry-Georgetown Technical College
Conway, SC · Data Processing |
54
46–56 |
$38,825/yr | 51.4x |
| 7 |
Dallas College
Dallas, TX · Data Processing |
64
57–66 |
$38,457/yr | 175.4x |
| 8 |
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC · Data Processing |
52
46–54 |
$39,702/yr | 43.1x |
| 9 |
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV · Data Processing |
52
44–55 |
$44,801/yr | 34.8x |
| 10 |
Tri-County Technical College
Pendleton, SC · Data Processing |
53
42–55 |
$34,725/yr | 57.2x |
| 11 |
Delgado Community College
New Orleans, LA · Data Processing |
46
36–49 |
$28,515/yr | 52.9x |
| 12 |
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM · Data Processing |
46
40–48 |
$38,559/yr | 21.5x |
| 13 |
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Bayside, NY · Data Processing |
43
32–45 |
$26,484/yr | 48.4x |
| 14 |
York Technical College
Rock Hill, SC · Data Processing |
43
37–45 |
$25,451/yr | 45.2x |
| 15 |
York Technical College
Rock Hill, SC · Data Processing |
41
30–43 |
$25,617/yr | 42.6x |
| 16 |
Athens Technical College
Athens, GA · Data Processing |
40
34–42 |
$24,012/yr | 36.8x |
Programs by State
Top states by program availability. Click a state for the full in-state ranking.
| State | Programs | Avg Earnings | Avg TSW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 7 | $34,771/yr | 40 |
| New Mexico | 4 | $38,559/yr | 41 |
| West Virginia | 1 | $44,801/yr | 42 |
| Texas | 1 | $38,457/yr | 43 |
| New York | 1 | $26,484/yr | 34 |
| Louisiana | 1 | $28,515/yr | 37 |
| Georgia | 1 | $24,012/yr | 29 |
About This Ranking
What we ranked
Best Data Processing Schools ranks 16 programs across the United States by the TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings, return on investment, and job-market demand into a single 0-100 metric.
Data sources
Earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, which tracks graduate income one and five years after program completion. Job-market projections use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 employment data.
How to read the table
Use the sort controls below the headline to re-rank by earnings, ROI, or other metrics. Click any school name for full earnings projections, three-scenario modeling, and detailed program data. Most students attend a school within driving distance — local rankings are usually more actionable than national.
Caveats & limitations
Rankings reflect what the data can measure: post-graduation earnings, debt levels, and broad labor-market trends. They cannot capture program quality nuances like instructor expertise, hands-on equipment access, or industry connections. Treat rankings as a starting point — visit schools and talk to current students before committing.
Methodology
Programs are ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score, which combines graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (projected earnings vs. program tuition).
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.