Find Out Exactly What You
Should Be Paid

Best Value Colleges For Technology Careers

A career in tech is a smart choice if you want to see maximum return on investment for the money you spend on your education.

According to PayScale's College ROI Report technology careers can lead to some of the highest returns on investment for your dollar -- but choosing the right school can mean a difference of up to one million dollars over the first 20 years of your career.

Tech jobs, which include job titles such as software developer, product manager, program manager, IT administration, web developer, UX designer, data scientist, statistician and more, are in high demand in today's economy. Read More

Find Out Exactly What You
Should Be Paid

On Campus

On Off

Financial Aid

Without With

ROI Type

20-Yr Net Annual %

Rank

School Name

20 Year Net ROI

Total 4 Year Cost

Graduation Rate

Typical Years to Graduate

Average Loan Amount

990 (tie)

University of North Alabama (UNA)(Out-of-State)

$334,000

$92,000

39%

5 Years

$17,900

990 (tie)	University of North Alabama (UNA)(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	8.0%
	Annual ROI	7.9%
	Annual ROI	9.4%
	Annual ROI	9.4%
	20 Year Net ROI	$334,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$334,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$356,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$356,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$92,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$92,300
	Grad Rate	39%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$17,900
	Grant Money Received	73%

990 (tie)

Winston-Salem State University(Out-of-State)

$334,000

$107,000

46%

5 Years

$25,800

990 (tie)	Winston-Salem State University(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	7.4%
	Annual ROI	7.3%
	Annual ROI	9.5%
	Annual ROI	9.5%
	20 Year Net ROI	$334,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$333,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$369,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$369,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$107,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$107,000
	Grad Rate	46%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$25,800
	Grant Money Received	88%

993 (tie)

Alfred University(Private)

$332,000

$164,000

55%

4 Years

$32,900

993 (tie)	Alfred University(Private)
	Annual ROI	5.7%
	Annual ROI	5.7%
	Annual ROI	9.1%
	Annual ROI	9.1%
	20 Year Net ROI	$332,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$332,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$410,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$410,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$164,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$164,000
	Grad Rate	55%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$32,900
	Grant Money Received	100%

993 (tie)

East Stroudsburg University (ESU)(Out-of-State)

$332,000

$127,000

56%

5 Years

$35,600

993 (tie)	East Stroudsburg University (ESU)(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	6.6%
	Annual ROI	6.3%
	Annual ROI	7.7%
	Annual ROI	7.3%
	20 Year Net ROI	$332,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$324,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$356,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$348,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$127,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$135,000
	Grad Rate	56%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$35,600
	Grant Money Received	51%

993 (tie)

University of Tampa(Private)

$332,000

$159,000

62%

4 Years

$29,500

993 (tie)	University of Tampa(Private)
	Annual ROI	5.8%
	Annual ROI	6.2%
	Annual ROI	7.6%
	Annual ROI	8.2%
	20 Year Net ROI	$332,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$344,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$377,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$389,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$159,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$147,000
	Grad Rate	62%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$29,500
	Grant Money Received	91%

996 (tie)

Ball State University (BSU)(Out-of-State)

$330,000

$151,000

59%

5 Years

$29,400

996 (tie)	Ball State University (BSU)(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	6.0%
	Annual ROI	6.0%
	Annual ROI	7.7%
	Annual ROI	7.7%
	20 Year Net ROI	$330,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$330,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$372,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$372,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$151,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$151,000
	Grad Rate	59%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$29,400
	Grant Money Received	67%

996 (tie)

Linfield College(Private)

$330,000

$197,000

71%

4 Years

$32,400

996 (tie)	Linfield College(Private)
	Annual ROI	5.1%
	Annual ROI	5.0%
	Annual ROI	8.3%
	Annual ROI	8.3%
	20 Year Net ROI	$330,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$330,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$419,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$419,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$197,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$197,000
	Grad Rate	71%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$32,400
	Grant Money Received	99%

996 (tie)

University of Montana(Out-of-State)

$330,000

$139,000

48%

5 Years

$24,500

996 (tie)	University of Montana(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	6.3%
	Annual ROI	6.3%
	Annual ROI	7.1%
	Annual ROI	7.1%
	20 Year Net ROI	$330,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$329,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$350,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$349,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$139,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$139,000
	Grad Rate	48%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$24,500
	Grant Money Received	85%

999 (tie)

Alabama State University (ASU)(In-State)

$328,000

$72,400

26%

5 Years

$27,500

999 (tie)	Alabama State University (ASU)(In-State)
	Annual ROI	8.9%
	Annual ROI	8.2%
	Annual ROI	12.8%
	Annual ROI	11.3%
	20 Year Net ROI	$328,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$317,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$365,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$353,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$72,400
	Total 4 Year Cost	$83,500
	Grad Rate	26%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$27,500
	Grant Money Received	83%

999 (tie)

Bowdoin College(Private)

$328,000

$243,000

93%

4 Years

$22,900

999 (tie)	Bowdoin College(Private)
	Annual ROI	4.4%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	Annual ROI	9.5%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$328,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$479,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	Total 4 Year Cost	$243,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	N/A
	Grad Rate	93%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$22,900
	Grant Money Received	48%

1001 (tie)

Delta State University(In-State)

$327,000

$73,800

32%

5 Years

$28,700

1001 (tie)	Delta State University(In-State)
	Annual ROI	8.8%
	Annual ROI	8.8%
	Annual ROI	10.1%
	Annual ROI	10.1%
	20 Year Net ROI	$327,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$327,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$343,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$343,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$73,800
	Total 4 Year Cost	$73,800
	Grad Rate	32%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$28,700
	Grant Money Received	92%

1001 (tie)

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania(Out-of-State)

$327,000

$96,000

45%

5 Years

$29,700

1001 (tie)	Edinboro University of Pennsylvania(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	7.7%
	Annual ROI	7.3%
	Annual ROI	9.3%
	Annual ROI	8.8%
	20 Year Net ROI	$327,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$320,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$352,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$344,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$96,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$103,000
	Grad Rate	45%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$29,700
	Grant Money Received	69%

1001 (tie)

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)(Out-of-State)

$327,000

$81,900

37%

5 Years

$20,900

1001 (tie)	Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)(Out-of-State)
	Annual ROI	8.4%
	Annual ROI	8.2%
	Annual ROI	9.8%
	Annual ROI	9.6%
	20 Year Net ROI	$327,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$324,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$346,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$343,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$81,900
	Total 4 Year Cost	$84,300
	Grad Rate	37%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$20,900
	Grant Money Received	80%

1001 (tie)

University of Texas - Pan American (UTPA)(In-State)

$327,000

$68,400

43%

5 Years

$15,300

1001 (tie)	University of Texas - Pan American (UTPA)(In-State)
	Annual ROI	9.2%
	Annual ROI	8.6%
	Annual ROI	13.3%
	Annual ROI	12.1%
	20 Year Net ROI	$327,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$319,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$363,000
	20 Year Net ROI	$355,000
	Total 4 Year Cost	$68,400
	Total 4 Year Cost	$76,300
	Grad Rate	43%
	Time to Graduate	5 Years
	Loan Amt	$15,300
	Grant Money Received	86%

1005 (tie)

SUNY - College at Cortland(In-State)

$326,000

$91,800

67%

4 Years

$28,300

1005 (tie)	SUNY - College at Cortland(In-State)
	Annual ROI	7.9%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	Annual ROI	9.5%
	Annual ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$326,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	20 Year Net ROI	$349,000
	20 Year Net ROI	N/A
	Total 4 Year Cost	$91,800
	Total 4 Year Cost	N/A
	Grad Rate	67%
	Time to Graduate	4 Years
	Loan Amt	$28,300
	Grant Money Received	61%

See Full List

*NOTE: Unranked schools on this list don’t have on-campus living options, so on-campus costs are not available.

You don't have to major in computer science or math in order to work in tech either -- many tech jobs are held by people who studied a wide variety of subjects other than computer engineering in college. So even if you earn your bachelor's degree in humanities, communication, or even and design, as long as you also take classes (or teach yourself) in technical skills like programming, coding, statistics and engineering, you can land a high-paying tech career.

Since Northern California's Silicon Valley is the heart of the tech industry, it isn't surprising that many of the College ROIs seen by technology workers come from the surrounding area. Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, consistently provides high 20-year ROIs for students who attend the school. Despite the fact that Stanford is an expensive private school, Stanford students usually do so well, especially in the tech field, that it is one of the best college values around for math and science careers. In nearby Berkeley, California, alumni of UC Berkeley also usually see an extraordinarily high college return on investment if technology careers are in their future. Even out-of-state residents, who pay significantly more to attend a University of California school, get a great value.

On the East Coast, Ivy League school Columbia University typically delivers a robust 20-year net ROI for tech students. Located in Manhattan in New York City, Columbia equips students with a strong network of both established blue-chip employers and up and coming tech start-ups.

Other schools to consider if you want the highest college return on investment technology careers can offer include Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Carnegie Mellon University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In fact, it's hard to find a college with a low return on investment if you end up working in tech.