Computer Software and Media Applications at St Petersburg College

St. Petersburg, FL · Public · Associate Degree

serving 18,759 students in St. Petersburg, FL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $27,889 track close to the $31,879 national median for Computer Software and Media Applications programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 69.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Software and Media Applications programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Computer Software and Media Applications's career paths, with 70% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 25% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,573 represents roughly 7 months of the $27,889 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

At #6 of 24 nationally, this is a top-5% Computer Software and Media Applications program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $27,889 to $36,901 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

There are 3 registered apprenticeship pathways mapped to Computer Software and Media Applications, including Data Scientist (median $112,590/yr). Apprenticeships offer an alternative route that combines paid work with structured training.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
63
Score
66
High End
Earnings $27,889/yr (-13% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$390K
7.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
72.7x
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 (In-State)
$5,364
Out-of-state: $18,572
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,573
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$36,901
32% 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

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Other Majors at St Petersburg College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does St Petersburg College's Computer Software and Media Applications program score?
At 63/100, St Petersburg College's Computer Software and Media Applications program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Computer Software and Media Applications to AI automation?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $291,782 in decade earnings vs $389,924 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why does St Petersburg College rank so high for Computer Software and Media Applications?
Ranked #6 of 24 programs nationally, St Petersburg College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Computer Software and Media Applications?
Computer Software and Media Applications connects to 3 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Computer Software and Media Applications workers?
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 →