WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+22% vs national median313 grads tracked

Computer Programming at Southwestern Illinois College

Ranked 2nd of 39 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Computer Programming by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$57,042
middle 50%: $37,002 – $88,770
Median · 5 years out
$80,595
middle 50%: $47,924 – $109,414
Median · 10 years out
$89,177
middle 50%: $59,476 – $122,253

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 Southwestern Illinois College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Computer Programming earn a median $57,042 one year after graduating, rising to $89,177 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 22% above the national median of $65,986 for this field, ranking 2nd 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
5.2 yrs
≈ $5,797 total interest

Same major at other universities

Moraine Valley Community College
$80,863 · 5 yrs out
Portland Community College
$79,996 · 5 yrs out
North Hennepin Community College
$79,564 · 5 yrs out
Central Texas College District
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Brookhaven College
$78,948 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
$78,529 · 5 yrs out
North Lake College
$77,273 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Southwestern Illinois College

Fire Protection (Associate)
$99,192 · 5 yrs out
Precision Production (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Precision Metal Working (Certificate)
$72,907 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Certificate)
$72,441 · 5 yrs out
Carpenters (Certificate)
$70,557 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$70,365 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$69,946 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$69,154 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$68,650 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$68,526 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$67,570 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$66,712 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Compare universities
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other
Compare universities
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Compare universities
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
Compare universities
Computer Science
Compare universities
Computer Software and Media Applications
Compare universities