---
title: Is a Data Processing degree worth the debt?
cip: 1103
source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard — Field of Study (2026-06-10 release)
sourceId: src:doe:college-scorecard:field-of-study:2026-06-10
---

# Is a Data Processing degree worth the debt?

Leading with the **Bachelor's**, across **4** colleges (4 of 4 programs report earnings):

- **Median pay, 1 year after completion:** $46,032 ($43,120 at 2 years)
- **Median federal debt:** $20,020 (federal loans only)
- **Debt-to-earnings:** 0.38× a first year's pay


**How to read this:** these are MEDIANS across college programs, measured **1–2 years after completion** (early career, graduates only) — NOT lifetime earnings, and NOT comparable to a college's 10-years-after-entry figure. They cover **federally-aided completers at programs large enough to report**; small programs are suppressed. A field median is not a prediction of your outcome, not causal (who enters a field differs by field), and **not a "best majors" ranking** — earnings are one dimension of worth. Verify by field at the official College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/).

## By degree level

| Level | Pay (1yr) | Federal debt | Debt/pay | Colleges | Programs reporting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Associate's | $32,338 | $15,235 | 0.36× | 11 | 11/11 |
| Bachelor's | $46,032 | $20,020 | 0.38× | 4 | 4/4 |

## Where a Bachelor's in this field reports the highest early-career pay

Reflects who enrolls and where, not causal program quality.

| College | Pay (1yr) | Federal debt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bellevue College (WA) | $62,976 | $12,951 |
| University of Nevada-Las Vegas (NV) | $52,631 | $20,020 |
| Arkansas State University (AR) | $39,432 | — |
| University of Southern Mississippi (MS) | $38,705 | $22,500 |

RECORDED College Scorecard figures + one DERIVED ratio (debt-to-earnings). Informs and compares; not advice on what to major in. Each college's full record: `/education/<slug>`.

Structured data: `/education/fields/data-processing.jsonld` · `/education/fields/data-processing.json`