WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)+17% vs national median81 grads tracked

Computer Programming at North Lake College

Ranked 8th of 39 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Computer Programming by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$59,353
middle 50%: $34,107 – $78,977
Median · 5 years out
$77,273
middle 50%: $50,539 – $104,398
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 North Lake College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Computer Programming earn a median $59,353 one year after graduating, rising to $77,273 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 17% above the national median of $65,986 for this field, ranking 8th 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
5.3 yrs
≈ $5,745 total interest

Same major at other universities

Southwestern Illinois College
$80,595 · 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
Kirkwood Community College
$76,958 · 5 yrs out
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
$76,554 · 5 yrs out
Des Moines Area Community College
$72,928 · 5 yrs out
College Of DuPage
$72,299 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$71,212 · 5 yrs out
Greenville Technical College
$70,870 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at North Lake College

Construction Trades (Associate)
$93,187 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Associate)
$93,187 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$90,582 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Certificate)
$82,121 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Certificate)
$81,381 · 5 yrs out
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers (Certificate)
$81,381 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$81,157 · 5 yrs out
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician (Associate)
$81,043 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$81,043 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Associate)
$78,781 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$76,525 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$73,576 · 5 yrs out

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