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

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Computer Software & Applications is the 90th most popular major in the country with 13,180 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in computer software and applications. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great computer software and applications programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the computer software and applications program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Computer Software & Applications Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

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

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

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications in the Far Western US Region

#1

Academy of Art University

San Francisco, California

#2 in overall quality

$27,688 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$62,154 Average Early-Career Earnings

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Academy of Art University landed the #1 spot on the list. 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Academy of Art University are $27,688.

Full Academy of Art University Computer Software & Applications Report

#2

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #2 spot on the list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s computer software degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Computer Software & Applications Report

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 72 degrees to qualified masters’s computer software students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Computer Software & Applications Master’s Degree Schools in the Far Western US Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full USC Computer Software & Applications Report

#4

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 join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Art Center College of Design. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Computer Software Schools for a Master’s in the Far Western US Region. Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s computer software degrees to qualified students.

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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Art Center College of Design are $49,090.

Read more about Computer Software & Applications at Art Center College of Design

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Computer Software & Applications

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.

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