Software Development at St Petersburg College

St. Petersburg, FL · Public · Associate Degree · Computer Software and Media Applications

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 Software Development 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 Software Development programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Software Development'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% Software Development 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 Software Development, 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 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

See the full career breakdown for Software Development — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from St Petersburg College and 23 other schools.

Read the full Software Development career guide →

Compare & Explore

Software Development Overview

Software Development at Other Schools

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 Software Development program score?
At 63/100, St Petersburg College's Software Development program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How vulnerable is Software Development to AI automation?
AI won't eliminate Software Development careers, but it may reshape them. At St Petersburg College, a score of 63/100 already accounts for the 70% task exposure — the ROI calculation factors in reduced employment probability.
Why does St Petersburg College rank so high for Software Development?
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.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Software Development program at St Petersburg College?
Beyond St Petersburg College'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.
What's the job market like for Software Development from St Petersburg College?
At 262,500 annual openings, Software Development has a very large employment base. St Petersburg College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given ongoing digital transformation and technology adoption.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →