Types of Degrees Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many data processing graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Associate Degree	783
Basic Certificate	576
Master’s Degree	272
Bachelor’s Degree	184
Undergraduate Certificate	144
Graduate Certificate	20
Doctor’s Degree	2

What Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, data processing majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Data Processing Majors

Data Processing majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Skills for Data Processing Majors

data processing majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities for Data Processing Majors

As you progress with your data processing degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

What Can You Do With a Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with data processing:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Geographic Information Systems Technicians	9.3%	$90,270
Web Administrators	9.3%	$90,270

Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in ?

This is one of the most frequently chosen computer science majors. It is the 10th most popular in the country with 170 students graduating with a bachelor’s in data processing in 2021. This major tends to be male dominated. About 70% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of data processing majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	25
Black or African American	30
Hispanic or Latino	21
White	77
International Students	11
Other Races/Ethnicities	20

Geographic Diversity

Data Processing appeals to people across the globe. About 6.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• India
• China
• Saudi Arabia
• Vietnam
• Nepal

How Much Do Majors Make?

Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary

Salaries According to BLS

Data Processing majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $46,750 to $93,350 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to

Some degrees associated with data processing may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to data processing have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	13.2%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	6.1%
Some College Courses	8.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	14.7%
Bachelor’s Degree	50.9%
Master’s Degree	7.2%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	1.5%

Online Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	40	6
Certificate (2-4 Years)	18	6
Associate’s Degree	73	14
Bachelor’s Degree	7	3
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	7	1
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	2	1
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Worth It?

The median salary for a data processing grad is $46,750 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 17% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $137,000 after 20 years!

Majors Related to

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to data processing.

Major	Number of Grads
Computer Information Systems	91,113
Computer Science	60,631
Information Technology	42,900
Information Science	17,504
Computer Software & Applications	14,312
Computer Systems Networking	13,795
Computer Programming	12,932
Computer Systems Analysis	2,261
Other Computer & Information Sciences	1,770
Data Entry	498

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Kenneth Jensen under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.