Software Developmentat University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Graduates earn $62,018/yr in their first year — about 34.0% above the national Software Development average. Base-case 10-year earnings $647K; scenarios range from $556K to $668K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Your strong earnings potential from this program isn't just about coding skills; it's about geography. Colorado Springs is a major hub for the defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity industries, with employers like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and the US Space Force dominating the local job market. These organizations consistently recruit cleared and clearable software talent for highly specialized, mission-critical projects, creating a powerful local hiring pipeline that drives up starting salaries. Your degree's blend of software and media applications is particularly valuable here, preparing you for work in areas like data visualization, simulation, and secure user interfaces. To maximize your advantage, actively pursue internships with these local defense contractors. Gaining early exposure and starting the security clearance process while still in school will give you an unparalleled head start in this lucrative regional market.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Colorado Colorado Springs's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Software Development
How University of Colorado Colorado Springs stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Colorado Colorado Springs, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Software Development offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Software Development trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Software Development at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Software Development at University of Colorado Colorado Springs?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Software Development field.
Will AI replace Software Development careers?
With 70% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $556,067 in decade earnings vs $668,046 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Colorado Colorado Springs's Software Development program stand out?
Ranked #11 of 55 programs nationally, University of Colorado Colorado Springs lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.