by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 48 U.S. colleges awarded 1,262 degrees and certificates in Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 68% of graduates. College Factual ranks 21 schools in its 2027 Best Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $48,133 one year after completing, rising to $59,970 after four years.
A degree in Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation involves the study of Modeling, Virtual Environments And Simulation. A Program Focusing On The Principles Of Applied Visual Simulation Technology And The Application Of Quantitative Analyses To Human-Computer Interaction. Includes Instruction In Object-Oriented Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Communications And Networks, Computer Graphics, Virtual Worlds And Simulation Systems, Probability, Statistics, Stochastic Modeling, Data Analysis, Human-Performance Evaluation, And Human-Behavior Modeling.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, modeling, virtual environments & simulation is a popular field of study, with 1,262 degrees awarded annually. 48 colleges award modeling, virtual environments & simulation degrees, an average of 26 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 238.
By level, the 1,262 awards include 30 certificates, 28 associate degrees, 852 bachelor’s degrees, 350 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 26% of modeling, virtual environments & simulation degrees and certificates in the latest year (332 of 1,262). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (562) and Asian (115), and international students earned 340.
College Factual ranks 21 schools in its 2027 Best Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation Schools ranking, including 16 for bachelor’s degrees and 8 for master’s degrees. It also ranks modeling, virtual environments & simulation schools within 7 states. In all, 48 colleges offer modeling, virtual environments & simulation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common modeling, virtual environments & simulation credential is the bachelor’s degree: 852 of the 1,262 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to modeling, virtual environments & simulation call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Computers and Electronics, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Written Comprehension and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a modeling, virtual environments & simulation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 30 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 28 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 852 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 350 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to modeling, virtual environments & simulation, at 47.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 47.8% |
| Master’s degree | 26.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 19.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation, with an average median salary of $86,306; the strongest outlook belongs to Software Developers, at 13.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Computer Information Systems Professor (CIS Professor), Faculty Member, Java Programming Professor and Computer Programming Professor.
The occupation related to modeling, virtual environments & simulation with the most projected jobs is Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,328,652.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,328,652 | -4.2% |
| Computer Programmers | 666,800 | 11.7% |
| Business Intelligence Analysts | 585,851 | 1.3% |
| Data Scientists | 507,848 | 8.1% |
| Clinical Data Managers | 300,656 | -0.9% |
| Software Developers | 145,079 | 13.5% |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | 94,151 | 8.5% |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | 40,928 | 6.1% |
Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation graduates earn a median $48,133 one year after completing their program, $59,970 after four years and $46,880 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,133 |
| 4 years | $59,970 |
| 5 years | $46,880 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to modeling, virtual environments & simulation is Business Intelligence Analysts, with a median salary of $143,840.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Business Intelligence Analysts | $143,840 |
| Computer Programmers | $109,892 |
| Data Scientists | $106,295 |
| Clinical Data Managers | $99,475 |
| Software Developers | $76,447 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $61,002 |
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | $57,836 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $35,659 |
Modeling, Virtual Environments & Simulation has 4 similar majors in the Computer & Information Sciences field, which together award 15,092 degrees a year; the largest are Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design (5,374), Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration (3,836) and Computer Graphics (3,784). Browse all Computer & Information Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Web Page, Digital/Multimedia and Information Resources Design | 5,374 |
| Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration | 3,836 |
| Computer Graphics | 3,784 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications, Other | 2,098 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
