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Major · Computer Sciences

A legacy office-software credential rebadged for entry-level work

Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician (CIP 11.0301) is an older office-software-and-applications credential. About 897 students complete it across 87 institutions, with associate’s graduates earning around $52,657 — the dominant credential level for this CIP.

Schools offering
87
Annual completions
897
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$56k

About this major

Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician (CIP 11.0301) is an older office-software-and-applications credential, originally created when data processing was a distinct business-computing function with mainframe operators, keypunch operators, and batch-job schedulers. The CIP definition organizes coursework around using computer software programs and applications for inputting, verifying, organizing, storing, retrieving, transforming, and extracting information — operating systems, word processing, spreadsheets, database programs, and research programs. Programs today typically train students for clerical, office-administration, and entry-level computer-support roles using current Microsoft Office, database, and ERP software, even though the CIP label predates that curriculum.

The major fits students who want a credential that maps to office and administrative work, prefer learning by doing in software-application courses rather than by writing code, and are comfortable with structured, document-driven workplaces. It rewards software fluency, attention to data-entry accuracy, and patience for repetitive transactional work. The career ladder runs from office-support and data-entry roles into senior administrative coordinator and office-manager positions, with movement into IT-helpdesk or business-analyst roles common after additional certification or coursework.

One grounded observation about scale and concentration: 897 students complete this CIP across 87 institutions, but South Carolina’s state technical colleges — Trident, Greenville, Spartanburg, York, Tri-County, and Midlands Technical — together produce roughly 33% of national completions. That signals regional adoption of the older CIP code by a coordinated state-college system. Associate’s graduates earn $52,657 in five-year tracked wages — close to BLS administrative-assistant medians and well below the BLS catchall “Computer occupations, all other” line ($108,970) shown in the packet, which is misleading for this credential. Bachelor’s graduates at $76,384 likely reflect students who pivoted into Information Technology (CIP 11.0103, 20,296 completions) or Computer and Information Sciences (11.0101, 34,556) rather than staying in pure data-processing work.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Computer occupations, all other $109k +8.2% Bachelor's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$56k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$53k

Bachelor's

$76k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you’re aiming at office-administration or clerical work and a state-technical-college 11.0301 program at your local school maps to a current curriculum (Microsoft Office, databases, ERP fundamentals), you’re planning to use the associate’s as a transfer credential into a four-year IT or business-administration program, you’re comfortable with the $35,000-$52,000 entry pay range, you understand the BLS “Computer occupations, all other” line in the packet is misleading and you’re grounded in realistic outcomes, and your target employer pipeline is regional (especially South Carolina, where the state technical college system uses this CIP consistently).

Think twice if your target career is IT support or computer-tech work — Computer Support Specialist (CIP 11.1006, 1,690 completions) is the named credential with CompTIA-certification preparation embedded and clearer employer recognition for that track. Reconsider if you want a tech-track major — Information Technology (CIP 11.0103, 20,296 completions) or Computer and Information Sciences (11.0101, 34,556) signal current curriculum and broader career options. Also pause if you’re outside South Carolina and your school’s 11.0301 program isn’t articulated to a recognized transfer destination; the older CIP code carries less employer weight in markets where it isn’t regionally adopted.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
Trident Technical College Charleston, SC 68 0 68
Greenville Technical College Greenville, SC 66 0 66
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 0 58 58
Spartanburg Community College Spartanburg, SC 50 0 50
New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Las Cruces, NM 41 0 41
CUNY Kingsborough Community College Brooklyn, NY 41 0 41
York Technical College Rock Hill, SC 40 0 40
CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NY 37 0 37
Tri-County Technical College Pendleton, SC 36 0 36
Midlands Technical College West Columbia, SC 35 0 35
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping

5,742 completions/yr

Tool and Die Technology/Technician

182 completions/yr

Laser and Optical Technology/Technician

78 completions/yr

Food Technology and Processing

25 completions/yr

3-D Modeling and Design Technology/Technician

14 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What does this CIP actually cover today?
The CIP definition organizes coursework around using computer software programs and applications for inputting, verifying, organizing, storing, retrieving, transforming, and extracting information — operating system fundamentals, word processing, spreadsheets, database programs, and research programs. The code dates to an earlier era of business computing when data processing was a distinct office function. Programs in this CIP today typically train students for clerical, office-administration, and entry-level computer-support roles using current Microsoft Office, database, and ERP software rather than legacy mainframe data processing.
Why is the BLS career listed as “Computer occupations, all other” at $108,970?
That listing is misleading for this CIP. SOC 15-1299 “Computer occupations, all other” is a BLS catchall covering high-paid specialized roles (data engineer, applied AI roles, advanced systems work) that virtually nobody from this credential reaches at entry. Realistic destinations from a 11.0301 associate’s are office support specialist, data entry specialist, administrative coordinator, and entry-level help-desk technician — typically in the $35,000-$50,000 range. The packet shows associate’s graduates at $52,657, well below the catchall median, which confirms the credential maps to office and administrative roles rather than the BLS catchall’s high-end tier.
What jobs do graduates actually land?
Realistic associate’s destinations include office support specialist, administrative assistant with data and records duties, data entry clerk, accounts-receivable or billing specialist, and entry-level help-desk technician. The packet shows associate’s graduates at $52,657 in five-year tracked wages — close to BLS administrative-assistant medians ($46,990) and slightly above. Bachelor’s graduates earn $76,384, but the bachelor’s sample is small and the gap likely reflects students pivoting into Information Technology (CIP 11.0103) or Computer and Information Sciences (11.0101) rather than staying in pure data-processing work.
Is this credential still relevant?
It depends. For South Carolina state-technical-college students using 11.0301 as the credential their college applies to a current office-administration program, the practical content is up-to-date even though the CIP code is older. For students considering a four-year tech career, a more current CIP — Information Technology (11.0103, 20,296 completions), Computer and Information Sciences (11.0101, 34,556), or Computer Support Specialist (11.1006, 1,690) — signals current curriculum and better employer recognition. Check the actual program content rather than the CIP code label.
Why are South Carolina technical colleges so dominant?
Trident Technical (68), Greenville Technical (66), Spartanburg Community (50), York Technical (40), Tri-County Technical (36), and Midlands Technical (35) together produce roughly 33% of national completions in this CIP. The pattern reflects the South Carolina Technical College System using 11.0301 consistently across the state for office-administration and data-processing programs. The credential is regionally recognized in South Carolina employer pipelines but won’t carry the same weight in other state labor markets where employers expect a more current CIP code.
How does this compare to Computer Support Specialist?
Computer Support Specialist (CIP 11.1006, 1,690 completions) is roughly twice the size and points directly at the help-desk and IT-support track — typically with vendor-certification preparation (CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+) embedded in the curriculum. 11.0301 is broader and older, focused on office-software work. If your target career is IT helpdesk or computer support, the named CIP signals clearer specialty preparation and better employer recognition; this CIP fits office-administration roles more than IT-support roles.