2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 13,180 people earned their degree in computer software and applications, making the major the 90th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, computer software and applications graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,738 and had an average of $32,112 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 2,319 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,033 and $33,000 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 468 computer software and applications graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,319 and $48,880 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 5 colleges that offered a degree in computer software and applications. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent computer software and applications programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the computer software and applications program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region master’s degree computer software students with aid.

Top 5 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in the Far Western US Region (With Aid)

#1

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #1 spot on the list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 29 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at UC Santa Cruz

#2

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 72 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

USC also made our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Southern California are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at USC

#3

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, Washington

$31,896 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 5 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Seattle Pacific University landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 1 masters’s computer software degrees in 2019-2020.

SPU also made our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at SPU are $31,896, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Seattle Pacific University

#4

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

#2 in overall quality

$27,688 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$62,154 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Academy of Art University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid. San Francisco, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out masters’s computer software degrees to 327 students in 2019-2020.

Academy of Art University also made our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Academy of Art University

#5

Art Center College of Design

Pasadena, California

#4 in overall quality

$49,090 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$77,715 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Art Center College of Design. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Art Center College of Design, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Computer Software & Applications at Art Center College of Design

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications (With Aid)

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Negative Space.

Featured Computer Science / Programming Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >