Software Development at Southern Careers Institute-Austin

Austin, TX · Private for-profit · Certificate · Computer Software and Media Applications

with a smaller student body of 1,079 in Austin, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,841 track close to the $31,879 national median for Software Development programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

AI risk is moderate — 70% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Software Development graduates.

At $7,389 in median debt against $31,841 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #11 out of 24 programs, Southern Careers Institute-Austin's Software Development offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Software Development connects to 3 apprenticeship options. The earn-while-you-learn model can be a strong alternative or complement to a certificate program.

57 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
48
Low End
57
Score
60
High End
Earnings $31,841/yr (-0% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$333K
1.0% annual growth
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.

Median Debt at Graduation
$7,389
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Software Development 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 →

Software Development Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Software Development careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering engineering & technology.

Read the full Software Development career guide →

Compare & Explore

Software Development Overview

Software Development at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southern Careers Institute-Austin

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southern Careers Institute-Austin's Software Development program score?
A score of 57/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Software Development field.
Will AI affect Software Development careers?
Our scenarios model 70% of Software Development tasks as AI-exposed. That doesn't mean job loss — it means role evolution. Southern Careers Institute-Austin's 57/100 score weights this risk into the overall assessment.
What's the typical debt for Software Development graduates from Southern Careers Institute-Austin?
Median debt of just $7,389 against $31,841/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Are there apprenticeship options for Software Development?
Beyond Southern Careers Institute-Austin's classroom route, 3 registered apprenticeships map to Software Development careers — including Data Scientist. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
Will Software Development graduates from Southern Careers Institute-Austin find jobs?
At 262,500 annual openings, Software Development has a very large employment base. Southern Careers Institute-Austin graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →