Top-ranked cloud computing degrees with the highest return on investment, combining affordable tuition with strong career outcomes.
$134,050 median salary · 40% graduation rate
Ranked #1 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (86.9/100): 40% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $5,154 in-state tuition, 24 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 70% graduation rate
Ranked #2 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (86.5/100): 70% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $3,335 in-state tuition, 7 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 32% graduation rate
Ranked #3 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (84.8/100): 32% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $4,662 in-state tuition, 21 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 30% graduation rate
Ranked #4 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (75.1/100): 30% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $2,400 in-state tuition, 6 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 29% graduation rate
Ranked #5 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (72.7/100): 29% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $4,485 in-state tuition, 13 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 29% graduation rate
Ranked #6 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (71.8/100): 29% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $2,904 in-state tuition, 12 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 30% graduation rate
Ranked #7 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (71/100): 30% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $3,214 in-state tuition, 4 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 30% graduation rate
Ranked #8 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (69.3/100): 30% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $3,335 in-state tuition, 4 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 20% graduation rate
Ranked #9 among cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (67.7/100): 20% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $3,750 in-state tuition, 5 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$134,050 median salary · 24% graduation rate
Ranked #10 among online cloud computing associate's programs by Hakia Score (66.3/100): 24% graduation rate, $134,050 median salary, $3,214 in-state tuition, 4 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
Hakia ranks Ivy Tech Community College's associate's cloud computing program #1. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Indianapolis, IN | Type: Public | Tuition: $5,154/year | Graduation Rate: 40% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 86.9
Hakia ranks Central Louisiana Technical Community College's associate's cloud computing program #2. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Alexandria, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,335/year | Graduation Rate: 70% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 86.5
Hakia ranks Dallas College's associate's cloud computing program #3. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Dallas, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,662/year | Graduation Rate: 32% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 84.8
Hakia ranks Laredo College's associate's cloud computing program #4. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Laredo, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,400/year | Graduation Rate: 30% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 75.1
Hakia ranks Madison Area Technical College's associate's cloud computing program #5. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Madison, WI | Type: Public | Tuition: $4,485/year | Graduation Rate: 29% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 72.7
Hakia ranks Victoria College's associate's cloud computing program #6. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Victoria, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $2,904/year | Graduation Rate: 29% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 71.8
Hakia ranks Louisiana Delta Community College's associate's cloud computing program #7. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Monroe, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,214/year | Graduation Rate: 30% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 71.0
Hakia ranks River Parishes Community College's associate's cloud computing program #8. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Gonzales, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,335/year | Graduation Rate: 30% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 69.3
Hakia ranks Collin County Community College District's associate's cloud computing program #9. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: McKinney, TX | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,750/year | Graduation Rate: 20% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 67.7
Hakia ranks Delgado Community College's online associate's cloud computing program #10. Degree: Associate's. Delivery: fully online. Location: New Orleans, LA | Type: Public | Tuition: $3,214/year | Graduation Rate: 24% | Median Salary: $134,050 | Score: 66.3
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Western Governors University | Salt Lake City, UT | Private | $7,710 | N/A | 77/100 |
| #2 Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | Public | $5,614 | 92% | 64.5/100 |
| #3 Kean University | Union, NJ | Public | $11,135 | 91% | 60/100 |
| #4 NUC University | Bayamon, PR | For-Profit | $7,314 | 74% | 57.5/100 |
| #5 Weber State University | Ogden, UT | Public | $5,471 | 92% | 57.5/100 |
Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis, IN · Public | On-campus | $5,154 | 40% | $134,050 | 86.9 |
| #2 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Central Louisiana Technical Community CollegeAlexandria, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,335 | 70% | $134,050 | 86.5 |
| #3 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Dallas CollegeDallas, TX · Public | On-campus | $4,662 | 32% | $134,050 | 84.8 |
| #4 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Laredo CollegeLaredo, TX · Public | On-campus | $2,400 | 30% | $134,050 | 75.1 |
| #5 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison, WI · Public | On-campus | $4,485 | 29% | $134,050 | 72.7 |
| #6 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Victoria CollegeVictoria, TX · Public | On-campus | $2,904 | 29% | $134,050 | 71.8 |
| #7 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Louisiana Delta Community CollegeMonroe, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,214 | 30% | $134,050 | 71.0 |
| #8 | Associate's in Cloud Computing River Parishes Community CollegeGonzales, LA · Public | On-campus | $3,335 | 30% | $134,050 | 69.3 |
| #9 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Collin County Community College DistrictMcKinney, TX · Public | On-campus | $3,750 | 20% | $134,050 | 67.7 |
| #10 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Delgado Community CollegeNew Orleans, LA · Public | Online | $3,214 | 24% | $134,050 | 66.3 |
| #11 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, CT · Public | On-campus | $4,608 | 24% | $134,050 | 64.8 |
| #12 | Associate's in Cloud Computing Blinn College DistrictBrenham, TX · Public | Online | $3,690 | 11% | $134,050 | 61.8 |
Showing all 12 ranked programs.
Quality metrics help distinguish excellent Cloud Computing programs from mediocre ones. We use objective, verifiable indicators rather than subjective reputation surveys.
Academic Quality Indicators:
Career Outcome Indicators:
Design and implement scalable cloud infrastructure solutions for enterprise organizations
Ensure high availability and performance of cloud-based systems and applications
Build and maintain data pipelines and analytics infrastructure in cloud platforms
Federal financial aid substantially reduces cloud computing degree costs for eligible students. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) provides access to grants, loans, and work-study opportunities that can cover 50-100% of program costs depending on family income and circumstances.
Pell Grants provide up to $7,395 annually for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. These grants require no repayment and can be combined with state grants and institutional scholarships to create comprehensive funding packages. STEM-focused financial aid often provides additional opportunities for cloud computing students.
Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs for technology-related education. Companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM provide up to $10,000 annually for employees pursuing cloud computing credentials. Working professionals can leverage these programs to reduce or eliminate degree costs entirely.
Women and underrepresented minorities can access specialized scholarship opportunities in technology fields. Organizations like the National Center for Women & Information Technology offer scholarships for women in tech ranging from $1,000 to full tuition coverage.
State-specific aid programs provide additional funding sources for residents. States like California, Texas, and New York offer technology-focused grants and scholarships that can significantly reduce attendance costs at public institutions within their borders.
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
Ranking 12 best-value cloud computing programs by graduation rate, selectivity, outcomes, and price, Ivy Tech Community College's Associate's in Cloud Computing comes out first. The Hakia Score is computed from IPEDS 2024 and BLS data with no paid placement. 2 of them can be earned fully online.
Number of graduates per year in this specific field (CIP code). Larger programs indicate established departments with more resources, course offerings, and career services. Measured from IPEDS Completions data.
Percentage of students completing their degree within 150% of expected time (6 years for bachelor's, 3 years for associate's). Higher rates indicate better student support and program quality. Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates survey.
Admission rate (lower = more selective). More selective institutions have stronger academic environments and more competitive graduates. For open-admission institutions, we use graduation rates as a proxy for quality.
National salary data for cloud computing graduates, factored into institutional scores based on job market strength.
Overall quality using all four factors weighted as shown above. Ideal for students seeking the strongest academic experience.
Same methodology, filtered to schools with fully online or hybrid options (IPEDS Distance Education data). Some schools may have lower graduation rates due to different student demographics.
Ranked primarily by net cost (tuition minus average institutional aid), with quality factors as tiebreakers. Best for cost-conscious students.
Federal database of college costs, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings
Employment projections and salary data for computer and information technology occupations
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System for institutional characteristics and costs
Annual analysis of college return on investment by institution and program
Cloud computing degree ROI calculations consider total program costs against lifetime earning potential. Our methodology compares degree holders' salaries with high school graduates over a 20-year period, accounting for opportunity costs, student loan interest, and career progression patterns.
Bachelor's degree holders in cloud computing earn compared to $31,200 for high school graduates according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This $40,800 annual premium compounds significantly over career spans, with experienced cloud architects earning $150,000+ annually.
The most valuable programs achieve positive ROI within 3-4 years of graduation. Western Governors University's competency-based model allows completion in 2-3 years at total costs under $22,000, creating exceptional value propositions for motivated students.
Geographic location significantly impacts ROI calculations. Cloud computing professionals in major tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle earn 40-60% premium salaries, while living costs increase by only 25-35%. California cloud computing programs often justify higher tuition through superior networking opportunities and employer connections.
Certification attainment accelerates ROI timelines substantially. Graduates who complete AWS certifications during their degree programs command $10,000-$20,000 salary premiums immediately upon graduation. Programs that integrate certification preparation provide measurable additional value.
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.