Software and Media Applications: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for students seeking advanced expertise in digital creation and interactive technology, this program integrates core principles of software development with dynamic media production. It prepares learners to design, build, and deploy innovative applications that merge functionality with compelling visual and auditory experiences across multiple platforms.
- Interactive Application Development: Focuses on creating responsive, user-centered software solutions using modern programming languages and frameworks tailored for web and mobile environments.
- Media Production and Integration: Explores techniques for producing and embedding high-quality audio, video, and graphic content within software applications to enhance user engagement.
- User Experience (UX) Design: Emphasizes intuitive interface planning, usability testing, and human-centered design methodologies to optimize the interaction between users and digital products.
- Front-End and Back-End Systems: Covers the full stack of web development, including client-side scripting, server-side logic, database management, and secure application architecture.
- Content Management and Delivery: Addresses strategies for organizing, distributing, and optimizing digital media content through scalable platforms and content delivery networks (CDNs).
- Emerging Technologies in Digital Media: Investigates cutting-edge tools and platforms such as augmented reality, real-time rendering, and adaptive media streaming for next-generation applications.
Software and Media Applications Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Software and Media Applications Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Software and Media Applications degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.
Career salary data is not available for this program.
Top Universities for Software and Media Applications by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 58 institutions offering Software and Media Applications programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Software and Media Applications is found at Berklee College of Music (485 graduates), Boston University (BU) (118 graduates), Illinois State University (ISU) (113 graduates), Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) (95 graduates), and Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) (94 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,866 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berklee College of Music |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
|
485 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | berklee.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
118 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
113 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) |
Other Award
|
95 | Griffin, Georgia | Public | sctech.edu |
| Atlanta Technical College (Atlanta Tech) |
Other Award
|
94 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | atlantatech.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
84 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Master's
|
58 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| DePaul University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
|
50 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) |
Other Award
|
48 | Clarkston, Georgia | Public | gptc.edu |
| Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
45 | Pasadena, California | Private | artcenter.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
45 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| California Institute of Arts & Technology (CalArts) |
Associate's
|
43 | San Diego, California | Private | ciat.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
41 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Champlain College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
38 | Burlington, Vermont | Private | champlain.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Other Award
|
35 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Bradley University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
35 | Peoria, Illinois | Private | bradley.edu |
| Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
31 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gatech.edu |
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (A-B Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
31 | Asheville, North Carolina | Public | abtech.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| Surry Community College (SCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Dobson, North Carolina | Public | surry.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
25 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| CUNY LaGuardia Community College |
Associate's
|
24 | Long Island City, New York | Public | lagcc.cuny.edu |
| Connecticut State Community College (CT State) |
Associate's
|
22 | Hartford, Connecticut | Public | ctstate.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| Academy of Art University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | San Francisco, California | Private | academyart.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 | Valencia, California | Private | calarts.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Master's
|
13 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Woodbury University |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Burbank, California | Private | woodbury.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Dakota State University (DSU) |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Madison, South Dakota | Public | dsu.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
8 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Dominican University |
Master's
|
6 | River Forest, Illinois | Private | dom.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Arnold, Maryland | Public | aacc.edu |
| Marion Technical College (MTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Marion, Ohio | Public | mtc.edu |
| Utah Valley University (UVU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Orem, Utah | Public | uvu.edu |
| Bushnell University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Eugene, Oregon | Private | bushnell.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Other Award
|
4 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | uwp.edu |
| Albany Technical College |
Other Award
|
3 | Albany, Georgia | Public | albanytech.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Bay de Noc Community College (Bay College) |
Associate's
|
3 | Escanaba, Michigan | Public | baycollege.edu |
| Henry Ford College (HFC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Dearborn, Michigan | Public | hfcc.edu |
| Blackburn College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Carlinville, Illinois | Private | blackburn.edu |
| South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Polkton, North Carolina | Public | spcc.edu |
| Western Oregon University (WOU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Monmouth, Oregon | Public | wou.edu |
| LeTourneau University (LETU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Longview, Texas | Private | letu.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Other Award
|
2 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Liberty University |
Other Award
|
2 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico |
Associate's
|
2 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico | Private | pupr.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| Keene State College (KSC) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Keene, New Hampshire | Public | keene.edu |
| Valley City State University (VCSU) |
Other Award
|
1 | Valley City, North Dakota | Public | vcsu.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| Duquesne University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | duq.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Software and Media Applications programs
Which universities have the largest Software and Media Applications programs?
Currently 59 accredited institutions offer Software and Media Applications degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Berklee College of Music (485 graduates), Boston University (BU) (118 graduates), and Illinois State University (ISU) (113 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Software and Media Applications growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,050 in 2010 to 1,866 in 2023-24. This represents a 78% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
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