Computer Software and Media Applications at Stark State College
North Canton, OH · Public · Associate Degree
TradeSchoolWorth Score (Base Case)
54
Strong Growth
50
Base Case
39
Conservative
Earnings
$22,525/yr (-29% vs median)
AI-Proof
Exposed (30% shielded)
Job Market
Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)
Future-Proof Earnings
Three scenarios modeling future earnings based on technology adoption rates and job market trends for Computer Software and Media Applications graduates.
| Strong Growth Full Stability |
Base Case Moderate Changes |
Conservative Max Disruption |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $367K | $241K | $137K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 39.3x | 25.8x | 14.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 23.6x | 15.5x | 8.8x |
| Viable Career Paths | 13 of 13 | 13 of 13 | 8 of 13 |
| TradeSchoolWorth Score | 54 | 50 | 39 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as technology and market conditions evolve over time.
Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,340
Out-of-state: $15,532
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,699
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$33,531
49% growth from Year 1
Career Paths
Where Computer Software and Media Applications graduates typically work. Raw data — no blending. The scenarios above model how these factors interact. This field has roughly 262,500 combined openings per year.
| Career Path | Wage | Openings/yr | Growth | AI-Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and information systems managers | $171,200 | 55,600 | +15.2% | 47% |
| Computer and information research scientists | $140,910 | 3,200 | +19.7% | 37% |
| Database architects | $135,980 | 4,000 | +8.7% | 6% |
| Software developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | 13% |
| Data scientists | $112,590 | 23,400 | +33.5% | 36% |
| Database administrators | $104,620 | 3,800 | -0.7% | 6% |
| Special effects artists and animators | $99,800 | 5,000 | +1.6% | 48% |
| Computer programmers | $98,670 | 5,500 | -6.0% | 5% |
Compare & Explore
Computer Software and Media Applications Overview
Computer Software and Media Applications at Other Schools
Other Majors at Stark State College
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TradeSchoolWorth Score for Computer Software and Media Applications at Stark State College?
This program scores 50/100 in the Base Case scenario, factoring in earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and earnings multiple. The score ranges from 39 (conservative) to 54 (strong growth) depending on market conditions.
How AI-proof is a career in Computer Software and Media Applications?
We model three scenarios: Strong Growth (full career stability), Base Case (moderate changes), and Conservative (maximum disruption). In the base case, Computer Software and Media Applications graduates retain 13 of 13 viable career paths. 10-year earnings range from $137,256 (conservative) to $366,963 (strong growth).
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 job openings per year nationally, making this a very large job market.
Is Computer Software and Media Applications at Stark State College worth it?
In the Base Case, this program earns 25.8x its tuition over 10 years. Even in the Conservative scenario, the multiple is 14.7x. The narrow spread between scenarios shows how stable trade careers are compared to desk jobs.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Scenarios model earnings resilience using AI exposure data and BLS job growth projections.
"Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI.
Last updated 2026.