Computer Software and Media Applications at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Minneapolis, MN · Public · Associate Degree

a compact campus enrolling 4,816 students in Minneapolis, MN.

Program Analysis

At $38,262 per year, Computer Software and Media Applications graduates from Minneapolis Community and Technical College earn slightly above the $31,879 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 39.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 22% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Computer Software and Media Applications career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

A #7 ranking among 24 Computer Software and Media Applications programs places Minneapolis Community and Technical College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 28% earnings increase from $38,262 to $48,789 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

For students considering alternatives, 3 registered apprenticeship programs align with Computer Software and Media Applications careers — offering paid training instead of tuition costs.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
63
Score
66
High End
Earnings $38,262/yr (20% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$511K
6.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
41.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
13 of 13
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$12,256
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,789
28% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Computer and information research scientists $140,910 +19.7% 37%
Database architects $135,980 +8.7% 6%
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910
+19.7% growth 37% AI-proof
Database architects
$135,980
+8.7% growth 6% AI-proof

View all 13 career paths with full salary data →

About Computer Software and Media Applications Careers

Your career could begin as a software developer, where you’ll spend your days in a code editor like VS Code, writing Python or JavaScript and collaborating with a team to build and debug applications. Alternatively, you could focus on user experience as a web and digital interface designer, using tools like Figma to create wireframes and test how people interact with your layouts.

Read the full Computer Software and Media Applications career guide →

Compare & Explore

Computer Software and Media Applications Overview

Computer Software and Media Applications at Other Schools

Other Majors at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Minneapolis Community and Technical College's Computer Software and Media Applications program score?
At 63/100, Minneapolis Community and Technical College's Computer Software and Media Applications program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Will AI affect Computer Software and Media Applications careers?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $400,306 in decade earnings vs $510,634 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Are there apprenticeship options for Computer Software and Media Applications?
Yes — 3 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Computer Software and Media Applications career paths, including Data Scientist. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates?
The career paths mapped to Computer Software and Media Applications have roughly 262,500 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →