Computer Programming major
Computer Programming: courses, careers, and where to study
Computer Programming teaches you to write, test, and maintain the code that runs software and systems, suiting students who want hands-on, build-it work over abstract theory.
A Computer Programming major centers on the craft of writing working software: translating a specification into clean code, then customizing, linking, testing, and troubleshooting it until it runs reliably. You learn several programming languages, ranging from low-level languages that talk closely to the machine to higher-level ones used for everyday application work, and you practice the full cycle of designing a program, building a prototype, finding the defects, and fixing them. Coursework leans practical and project-driven, so much of your time is spent at a keyboard building and debugging rather than proving theorems. This focus is what sets programming apart from computer science, which dives deeper into algorithms, computational theory, and the mathematics underneath, and from software engineering, which adds heavier emphasis on large-team process, architecture, and managing a system across its whole lifecycle; programming concentrates on the act of producing and maintaining the code itself.
The most directly associated programming roles typically expect a bachelor's degree, though associate programs and shorter certificates also prepare people for entry work, and many students assemble a portfolio of projects to show what they can build. Programs are lab-heavy, with hands-on labs in most courses, group projects, and a capstone in which you design and deliver a working application from start to finish. The field carries no government license to practice, so there is no licensure exam to pass; instead, employers often look at demonstrated skills, internships, and optional vendor or platform certifications, and any program-level accreditation should be verified directly with the school. Graduates write and maintain software in settings such as technology firms, financial and insurance companies, healthcare organizations, government agencies, consulting shops, and the internal software teams of businesses across nearly every industry.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of computer programmers, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $98,670 and projects employment to decline about 6% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Computer Programming maps to CIP 11.0201, Computer Programming/Programmer, General, within the COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the general writing and implementation of generic and customized programs to drive operating systems and that generally prepares individuals to apply the methods and procedures of software design and programming to software installation and maintenance. Includes instruction in software design, low- and high-level languages and program writing; program customization and linking; prototype testing; troubleshooting; and related aspects of operating systems and networks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Computer Programming is awarded as
Of the 11,013 Computer Programming credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate49%5,348
- Associate31%3,446
- Bachelor's16%1,737
- Graduate4%482
This is one of the fields where the answer genuinely depends on where you study: across the 30 states reporting it, certificates run from 7% of credentials in the 10th-percentile state to 84% in the 90th. Check the mix in your state before assuming which credential a program leads to. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- Programming fundamentals in low-level and high-level languages
- Data structures and core algorithms
- Object-oriented design and modular programming
- Database design and SQL queries
- Web and application development with hands-on labs
- Software testing, debugging, and troubleshooting techniques
- Version control and collaborative development workflows
- Scripting and task automation
- A capstone project building and delivering a working application
Typical careers
- Computer Programmer
- Application Developer
- Software Tester
- Automation Programmer
- Scripting Developer
- Junior Software Engineer
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 computer programmers median $98,670).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Computer Programming, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $133,080 | 115,200 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $102,610 | 14,000 | +10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $73,340 | 9,600 | +1.8% | Associate's degree |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $98,090 | 9,100 | +7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Programmers | $98,670 | 5,500 | -6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Web Developers | $90,930 | 5,400 | +7.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $96,690 | 3,500 | +5.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 7 of these 7 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Computer Programming does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Computer Programming major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Computer Programming program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Computer Programming department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Computer Programming program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Computer Programming credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- Brigham Young University-IdahoID · 959
- Austin Community College DistrictTX · 646
- Western Governors UniversityUT · 367
- Diablo Valley CollegeCA · 325
- Dallas CollegeTX · 297
- DePaul UniversityIL · 264
- Valencia CollegeFL · 261
- Orange Coast CollegeCA · 202
- San Jacinto Community CollegeTX · 172
- Amarillo CollegeTX · 161
- Weber State UniversityUT · 151
- Chattahoochee Technical CollegeGA · 138
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Computer Programming credentials were awarded
18 states have a distinct enough set of Computer Programming colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Computer Programming schools by state
- Computer Programming in California
- Computer Programming in Florida
- Computer Programming in Georgia
- Computer Programming in Illinois
- Computer Programming in Maryland
- Computer Programming in Massachusetts
- Computer Programming in New York
- Computer Programming in North Carolina
- Computer Programming in Pennsylvania
- Computer Programming in Texas
Related majors
Computer Science
Computer Science combines the mathematical foundations of computation with practical software engineering, preparing graduates for careers in software, AI/ML, security, data, and research.
Software Engineering
Software engineering is the team discipline of designing, building, testing, and maintaining reliable software, suiting students who want to turn working code into dependable products.
Web Development
Web Development is the major for building websites and browser-based applications, where you write the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that turn designs and content into working pages.
Information Technology
Information Technology (IT) focuses on applying computing systems to organizational needs, administering networks, supporting users, building business systems, and managing IT operations.
Data Science
Data Science combines statistics, programming, and domain expertise to turn raw data into decisions, drawing on machine learning, visualization, and data engineering.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Computer Programming degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
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How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Computer Programming degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Computer Programming path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.