WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-14% vs national median45 grads tracked

Computer Programming at Oakton College

Ranked 28th of 39 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Computer Programming by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$48,487
middle 50%: $37,466 – $71,155
Median · 5 years out
$56,877
middle 50%: $46,663 – $108,603
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Computer Programming (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Oakton College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Computer Programming earn a median $48,487 one year after graduating, rising to $56,877 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $65,986 for this field, ranking 28th of 39 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
7 yrs
≈ $7,676 total interest

Same major at other universities

Trident Technical College
$62,158 · 5 yrs out
Tarrant County College District
$60,837 · 5 yrs out
San Jacinto Community College District
$60,033 · 5 yrs out
San Antonio College
$59,635 · 5 yrs out
Saint Philip's College
$58,609 · 5 yrs out
Linn-Benton Community College
$57,471 · 5 yrs out
Northern Essex Community College
$55,935 · 5 yrs out
Lewis and Clark Community College
$55,464 · 5 yrs out
Lane Community College
$55,228 · 5 yrs out
Amarillo College
$54,252 · 5 yrs out
Owens Community College
$52,508 · 5 yrs out
Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
$48,054 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Oakton College

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$96,354 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Certificate)
$94,549 · 5 yrs out
Computer Software and Media Applications (Certificate)
$92,948 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$83,533 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$82,614 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Certificate)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Associate)
$79,787 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$77,343 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$77,146 · 5 yrs out

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