Best Computer Programmer programs in Massachusetts, ranked by enrollment
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals.
48 schools in Massachusetts run programs that feed this job, graduating 5,756 people a year. The job pays a median of $128,390 in Massachusetts across about 1,930 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Massachusetts that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
9 programs in Massachusetts that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Massachusetts (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Massachusetts page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 11.0701In Massachusetts → | 5,223 | 90.7% | 42 | $70,374 | $23,250 |
| 2 | CIP 30.7101In Massachusetts → | 276 | 4.8% | 7 | — | — |
| 3 | CIP 52.1201In Massachusetts → | 141 | 2.4% | 4 | $59,352 | $24,618 |
| 4 | Computer Programming/Programmer, Generalmain feeder CIP 11.0201In Massachusetts → | 32 | 0.6% | 6 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 5 | Computer Programming, Othermain feeder CIP 11.0299In Massachusetts → | 28 | 0.5% | 3 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 6 | Computer Programming, Specific Applicationsmain feeder CIP 11.0202In Massachusetts → | 23 | 0.4% | 4 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 7 | CIP 11.0803In Massachusetts → | 23 | 0.4% | 2 | $33,504 | $27,000 |
| 8 | Computer Game Programmingmain feeder CIP 11.0204In Massachusetts → | 8 | 0.1% | 2 | $46,719 | $20,729 |
| 9 | CIP 30.3001In Massachusetts → | 2 | 0.0% | 1 | $50,745 | $27,000 |
Top 25 schools in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 20 of the 48 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 901 | Computer Science | $88,554 | 83% | — | 60% |
| 2 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 694 | Computer Science | $90,050 | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 3 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 684 | Computer Science | $154,492 | 96% | $11,666 | 5% |
| 4 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 408 | Computer Science | $93,888 | 90% | $32,926 | 60% |
| 5 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 377 | Computer Science | $105,659 | 94% | $23,570 | 11% |
| 6 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 340 | Computer Science | $152,251 | 98% | $15,013 | 4% |
| 7 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 265 | Computer Science | $86,167 | 65% | — | 83% |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth North Dartmouth, MA Public · 4 feeder programs | 234 | Data Analytics, General | — | 52% | — | 91% |
| 9 | Clark University Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 193 | Computer Science | — | 77% | $23,332 | 40% |
| 10 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 192 | Computer Science | $86,749 | 91% | $21,126 | 16% |
| 11 | University of Massachusetts - Boston Boston, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 190 | Computer Science | — | 49% | — | 84% |
| 12 | Western New England University Springfield, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 139 | Management Information Systems, General | — | 64% | $29,327 | 83% |
| 13 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 135 | Computer Science | $85,954 | 68% | $32,713 | 91% |
| 14 | Brandeis University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 111 | Computer Science | $80,431 | 86% | $25,074 | 40% |
| 15 | Fitchburg State University Fitchburg, MA Public · 1 feeder programs | 108 | Computer Science | — | 55% | — | 87% |
| 16 | Merrimack College North Andover, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 97 | Computer Science | $70,256 | 70% | $33,877 | 70% |
| 17 | Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA Public · 3 feeder programs | 94 | Computer Science | $30,332 | 13% | — | — |
| 18 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 66 | Computer Science | $57,007 | 53% | — | 88% |
| 19 | Williams College Williamstown, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 62 | Computer Science | $110,814 | 94% | $10,747 | 8% |
| 20 | Amherst College Amherst, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 59 | Computer Science | $100,596 | 94% | $16,081 | 9% |
| 21 | Smith College Northampton, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 52 | Computer Science | $66,981 | 89% | $17,183 | 21% |
| 22 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 44 | Computer Science | $71,672 | 84% | $26,083 | 36% |
| 23 | Massasoit Community College Brockton, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 31 | Computer Science | — | 19% | — | — |
| 24 | Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Public · 3 feeder programs | 31 | Computer Graphics | $21,803 | 22% | — | — |
| 25 | Springfield Technical Community College Springfield, MA Public · 2 feeder programs | 28 | Computer Science | — | 32% | — | — |
All 48 schools in Massachusetts
Every school in Massachusetts with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts - Amherst | Amherst | Public | 901 | 1 |
| Boston University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 694 | 1 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 684 | 1 |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 408 | 2 |
| Tufts University | Medford | Private not-for-profit | 377 | 2 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge | Private not-for-profit | 340 | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts - Lowell | Lowell | Public | 265 | 1 |
| University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 234 | 4 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 193 | 1 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private not-for-profit | 192 | 2 |
| University of Massachusetts - Boston | Boston | Public | 190 | 2 |
| Western New England University | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 139 | 2 |
| Wentworth Institute of Technology | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 135 | 2 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 111 | 2 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | Public | 108 | 1 |
What computer programmers earn in Massachusetts
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $100,390. Massachusetts pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Massachusetts
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Computer Programmers page.
How to become a Computer Programmer
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Massachusetts
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 17 majors mapped to Computer Programmers17 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 11.0201Computer Programming/Programmer, General
- 11.0202Computer Programming, Specific Applications
- 11.0203Computer Programming, Vendor/Product Certification
- 11.0204Computer Game Programming
- 11.0205Computer Programming, Specific Platforms
- 11.0299Computer Programming, Other
- 11.0701Computer Science
- 11.0803Computer Graphics
- 11.0804Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation
- 11.0902Cloud Computing
- 15.1204Computer Software Technology/Technician
- 30.3001Computational Science
- 30.7101Data Analytics, General
- 30.7103Data Visualization
- 30.7199Data Analytics, Other
- 51.0709Medical Office Computer Specialist/Assistant
- 52.1201Management Information Systems, General
Common questions
Answers for people weighing computer programmers programs in Massachusetts.
What degree do you need to become a Computer Programmer?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Computer Science, which awarded 5,223 degrees in Massachusetts in 2024-25, 90.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Computer Programmer?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 9 programs to this occupation. The largest are Computer Science, Data Analytics, Management Information Systems and Services, Computer Programming, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 5,756 people a year in Massachusetts.
How much do computer programmers earn in Massachusetts?+
The median is $128,390 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 27.9% above the U.S. median of $100,390. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for computer programmers growing?+
BLS projects a -6.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 5,500 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Massachusetts?+
48 institutions in Massachusetts reported graduates from at least one of the 9 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do computer programmers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Programmer, Analyst Programmer, Programmer Analyst, Computer Programmer among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 15-1251.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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