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Software Development at Northwest Missouri State University

Maryville, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Computer Software and Media Applications
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
77
Optimistic
76
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $51,790/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (70% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (262,500 openings/yr)
ROI 18.1x earnings multiple (11.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #5 of 55 Computer Software and Media Applications programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Software Development graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $772K $739K $610K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.0x 18.1x 15.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.6x 11.1x 9.2x
Probability of Field Employment 80% 71% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 77 76 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,724
Out-of-state: $66,492 (11.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,296
-46% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$76,903
48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $51,790 per year, Software Development graduates from Northwest Missouri State University earn slightly above the $46,351 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 18.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 70% task exposure — and the 21% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $23,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #5 ranking out of 55 Software Development programs nationally puts Northwest Missouri State University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $51,790 to $76,903 shows 48% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northwest Missouri State University

With 86% of applicants admitted, Northwest Missouri State University prioritizes broad access, with a smaller student body of 4,550 in Maryville, MO.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwest Missouri State University →

Top Career Paths

Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Computer and information research scientists $140,910/yr
Database architects $135,980/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 55 schools offering Software Development →

Software Development at Other Schools

University of Southern California ($103,071) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($98,117) Western Governors University ($95,292) Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($86,193) University of Phoenix-Arizona ($83,476) University of Phoenix-California ($83,476) University of Phoenix-Texas ($83,476) DigiPen Institute of Technology ($81,885)

Other Majors at Northwest Missouri State University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($65,444) Marketing ($48,557) Agricultural Business and Management ($48,302) Plant Sciences ($47,170) Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians ($46,647) Finance and Financial Management Services ($45,810) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($43,672) Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies ($42,389)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Software Development trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwest Missouri State University's Software Development program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northwest Missouri State University's Software Development graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Software Development to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Software Development careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 70% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →