Human-Computer Interaction: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is a forward-thinking, interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how individuals engage with digital systems and technologies. By merging insights from computing, behavioral science, and design, the program prepares students to create intuitive, effective, and socially responsible technology experiences.
- Cognitive Science: Explores how people perceive, process, and respond to information, informing designs that align with natural mental models and attentional limits.
- Cognitive Psychology: Investigates mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, and decision-making to improve interface usability and user performance.
- Artificial Intelligence and Design: Integrates AI-driven capabilities with human-centered design principles to develop adaptive, intelligent systems that support user goals.
- Software Engineering: Focuses on systematic development, testing, and maintenance of software with an emphasis on user-centric architecture and iterative feedback loops.
- Information Systems: Examines how data and technology are structured, managed, and leveraged within organizations to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency.
- Organizational Psychology: Studies workplace dynamics, team behavior, and leadership to design systems that support collaboration, productivity, and employee well-being.
- Social Psychology: Analyzes how social contexts, norms, and group behavior influence technology adoption, digital communication, and online interactions.
- Systems Design: Applies user-centered methodologies to create holistic technological solutions that balance functionality, accessibility, and ethical considerations.
Human-Computer Interaction Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Human-Computer Interaction Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Human-Computer Interaction degrees, including Computer and Information Systems Managers, Computer and Information Research Scientists and Computer Occupations, All Other. 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. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 1,271,470 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers 11-3021 | $171,200 | $104,450 - $239,200 | 645,970 | $82.31 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists 15-1221 | $140,910 | $80,670 - $232,120 | 38,480 | $67.74 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other 15-1299 | $108,970 | $52,650 - $176,800 | 439,380 | $52.39 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers 15-1255 | $98,090 | $47,840 - $192,180 | 111,400 | $47.16 |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1021 | $96,690 | $48,910 - $172,380 | 36,240 | N/A |
Human-Computer Interaction Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $79,458 in Arkansas to $153,456 in Washington—a 93% difference. The highest-paying states include Washington, California, and New York. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,271,470 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Human-Computer Interaction by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 51 institutions offering Human-Computer Interaction 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 Human-Computer Interaction is found at Full Sail University (651 graduates), Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (137 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (127 graduates), DePaul University (120 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (107 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,298 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
651 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
137 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
127 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
|
120 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
107 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
100 | Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| Iowa State University (ISU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
85 | Ames, Iowa | Public | iastate.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
71 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| California College of the Arts (CCA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
65 | San Francisco, California | Private | cca.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
63 | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| Pratt Institute |
Master's
|
56 | Brooklyn, New York | Private | pratt.edu |
| Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) |
Master's
|
51 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | iit.edu |
| University of California (UCI) |
Master's
|
46 | Irvine, California | Public | uci.edu |
| Drexel University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
46 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Master's
|
45 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Bentley University |
Master's
Other Award
|
42 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | bentley.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) |
Master's
|
37 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | cmu.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Master's
|
36 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| School of Visual Arts (SVA) |
Master's
|
36 | New York, New York | Private | sva.edu |
| Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) |
Bachelor's
|
31 | Savannah, Georgia | Private | scad.edu |
| DigiPen Institute of Technology |
Bachelor's
|
27 | Redmond, Washington | Private | digipen.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Master's
|
22 | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Kent State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
20 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) |
Master's
|
20 | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | Private | harrisburgu.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Master's
|
18 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| State University of New York |
Master's
|
17 | Oswego, New York | Public | oswego.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
15 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Residency
|
15 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) |
Bachelor's
|
12 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Private | msoe.edu |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
10 | Worcester, Massachusetts | Private | wpi.edu |
| Bowdoin College |
Bachelor's
|
9 | Brunswick, Maine | Private | bowdoin.edu |
| College for Creative Studies (CCS) |
Master's
|
8 | Detroit, Michigan | Private | collegeforcreativestudies.edu |
| Northwest University |
Bachelor's
|
7 | Kirkland, Washington | Private | northwestu.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Master's
|
6 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) |
Postbac Cert.
|
6 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Public | vt.edu |
| Capitol Technology University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Laurel, Maryland | Private | captechu.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Master's
|
5 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| Weber State University (WSU) |
Other Award
|
4 | Ogden, Utah | Public | weber.edu |
| Woodbury University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Burbank, California | Private | woodbury.edu |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art |
Master's
|
3 | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan | Private | cranbrookart.edu |
| Nazareth University |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Rochester, New York | Private | www2.naz.edu |
| Rice University |
Master's
|
3 | Houston, Texas | Private | rice.edu |
| University of Advancing Technology (UAT) |
Bachelor's
|
3 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | uat.edu |
| Colby College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Waterville, Maine | Private | colby.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
1 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Branchburg, New Jersey | Public | raritanval.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Other Award
|
1 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Human-Computer Interaction programs
How much can I earn with a Human-Computer Interaction degree?
Salaries for Human-Computer Interaction graduates vary by role and location. Computer and Information Systems Managers earn a median of $171,200 annually, while Computer and Information Research Scientists earn around $140,910. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Washington average $153,456 compared to $79,458 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,271,470 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Human-Computer Interaction programs?
Currently 51 accredited institutions offer Human-Computer Interaction degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (651 graduates), Indiana University (IU Indianapolis), Indianapolis (137 graduates), and Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (127 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 Human-Computer Interaction growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 17 in 2010 to 2,298 in 2023-24. This represents a 13,418% 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.
What career paths are available with a Human-Computer Interaction degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Computer and Information Systems Managers, Computer and Information Research Scientists, and Computer Occupations, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 1,271,470 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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