Top-ranked graduate programs for advanced web development, full-stack engineering, and modern frontend/backend technologies.
$92,650 median salary · 88% graduation rate
Ranked #1 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (95.9/100): 88% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $62,796 in-state tuition, 137 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 90% graduation rate
Ranked #2 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (95.8/100): 90% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $10,034 in-state tuition, 20 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 72% graduation rate
Ranked #3 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (80.1/100): 72% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $19,472 in-state tuition, 12 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 73% graduation rate
Ranked #4 among online web development master's programs by Hakia Score (79.5/100): 73% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $50,084 in-state tuition, 37 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 78% graduation rate
Ranked #5 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (79.5/100): 78% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $60,042 in-state tuition, 8 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 75% graduation rate
Ranked #6 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (78.7/100): 75% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $50,636 in-state tuition, 1 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 69% graduation rate
Ranked #7 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (77.8/100): 69% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $57,374 in-state tuition, 106 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$98,325 median salary · 66% graduation rate
Ranked #8 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (75/100): 66% graduation rate, $98,325 median salary, $34,360 in-state tuition, 4 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 62% graduation rate
Ranked #9 among online web development master's programs by Hakia Score (70.2/100): 62% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $17,520 in-state tuition, 10 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
$92,650 median salary · 77% graduation rate
Ranked #10 among web development master's programs by Hakia Score (70.1/100): 77% graduation rate, $92,650 median salary, $48,986 in-state tuition, 7 graduates a year. Federal data, IPEDS 2024 and BLS.
Hakia ranks New York University's master's web development program #1. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $62,796/year | Graduation Rate: 88% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 95.9
Hakia ranks University of Georgia's master's web development program #2. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Athens, GA | Type: Public | Tuition: $10,034/year | Graduation Rate: 90% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 95.8
Hakia ranks Touro University's master's web development program #3. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $19,472/year | Graduation Rate: 72% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 80.1
Hakia ranks Sacred Heart University's online master's web development program #4. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Fairfield, CT | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $50,084/year | Graduation Rate: 73% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 79.5
Hakia ranks Drexel University's master's web development program #5. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Philadelphia, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $60,042/year | Graduation Rate: 78% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 79.5
Hakia ranks Illinois Institute of Technology's master's web development program #6. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Chicago, IL | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $50,636/year | Graduation Rate: 75% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 78.7
Hakia ranks The New School's master's web development program #7. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: New York, NY | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $57,374/year | Graduation Rate: 69% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 77.8
Hakia ranks Robert Morris University's master's web development program #8. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Moon Township, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $34,360/year | Graduation Rate: 66% | Median Salary: $98,325 | Score: 75.0
Hakia ranks Westcliff University's online master's web development program #9. Degree: Master's. Delivery: fully online. Location: Irvine, CA | Type: Private for-profit | Tuition: $17,520/year | Graduation Rate: 62% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 70.2
Hakia ranks Duquesne University's master's web development program #10. Degree: Master's. Delivery: on-campus. Location: Pittsburgh, PA | Type: Private nonprofit | Tuition: $48,986/year | Graduation Rate: 77% | Median Salary: $92,650 | Score: 70.1
| School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 New York University | New York, NY | Private | $60,438 | N/A | 100.0/100 |
| #2 Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Private | $62,260 | 98% | 98.1/100 |
| #3 Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | Private | $54,269 | N/A | 91.4/100 |
| #4 University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | Public | $4,478 | 93% | 90.8/100 |
| #5 University of Georgia | Athens, GA | Public | $9,790 | 95% | 87.5/100 |
Data from IPEDS 2024. Tuition shown is in-state for public schools.
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
Flexibility & Lower Cost
Networking & Experience
| Rank | Program & School | Delivery | Annual Tuition | Grad Rate | Median Salary | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Master's in Web Development New York UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $62,796 | 88% | $92,650 | 95.9 |
| #2 | Master's in Web Development University of GeorgiaAthens, GA · Public | On-campus | $10,034 | 90% | $92,650 | 95.8 |
| #3 | Master's in Web Development Touro UniversityNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $19,472 | 72% | $92,650 | 80.1 |
| #4 | Master's in Web Development Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield, CT · Private nonprofit | Online | $50,084 | 73% | $92,650 | 79.5 |
| #5 | Master's in Web Development Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $60,042 | 78% | $92,650 | 79.5 |
| #6 | Master's in Web Development Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $50,636 | 75% | $92,650 | 78.7 |
| #7 | Master's in Web Development The New SchoolNew York, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $57,374 | 69% | $92,650 | 77.8 |
| #8 | Master's in Web Development Robert Morris UniversityMoon Township, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $34,360 | 66% | $98,325 | 75.0 |
| #9 | Master's in Web Development Westcliff UniversityIrvine, CA · Private for-profit | Online | $17,520 | 62% | $92,650 | 70.2 |
| #10 | Master's in Web Development Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $48,986 | 77% | $92,650 | 70.1 |
| #11 | Master's in Web Development School of Visual ArtsNew York, NY · Private for-profit | On-campus | $51,400 | 76% | $92,650 | 69.4 |
| #12 | Master's in Web Development New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $44,060 | 59% | $92,650 | 65.5 |
| #13 | Master's in Web Development Kent State University at KentKent, OH · Public | On-campus | $12,742 | 64% | $92,650 | 64.7 |
| #14 | Master's in Web Development St. Francis CollegeBrooklyn, NY · Private nonprofit | On-campus | $28,425 | 55% | $92,650 | 63.1 |
| #15 | Master's in Web Development Academy of Art UniversitySan Francisco, CA · Private for-profit | Online | $29,736 | 34% | $92,650 | 61.5 |
| #16 | Master's in Web Development University of BaltimoreBaltimore, MD · Public | Online | $7,590 | 38% | $92,650 | 60.5 |
Showing all 16 ranked programs.
The total cost of a masters's degree in Web Development ranges from $38,320 at public universities to over $148,800 at elite private institutions. Financial aid, scholarships, and in-state tuition significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs (Noble Desktop, Research.com, IPEDS).
With median starting salaries of $90,930, most graduates achieve positive ROI within 3-5 years. Financial aid recipients often pay 30-50% less than sticker price.
Enter your details to estimate your degree return on investment
Leave blank to use average cost for selected program type
+907%
Net gain divided by total investment. ROI above 200% is considered excellent for education investments.
$1,677,254
Your additional lifetime earnings with this degree vs. working without one, minus the total investment.
5 years
Years until your cumulative earnings exceed total investment. Shorter programs often break even faster due to lower opportunity cost.
$133,333
Your starting salary adjusted for local cost of living. This shows real purchasing power compared to a $100K national baseline.
Why does break-even change with program type? Your "total investment" includes both tuition AND opportunity cost (foregone earnings while in school). A 4-year full-time public university (in-state) means 4 years of not earning a salary ($140,000 in opportunity cost). Shorter full-time programs may have higher tuition but lower total investment because you return to the workforce sooner.
How we calculate your degree ROI using real salary data
Tuition plus opportunity cost (earnings you miss while in school)
Direct cost of the degree program
4 years × $35K/year foregone salary while studying full-time
Projected career earnings starting after graduation, with salary growth
What you'd earn working at $35K/year with 2% annual growth
Median salary for this role in your selected location (BLS 2024)
Your investment's compound annual growth rate (similar to stock market returns)
Data sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, IPEDS 2024. Calculations use median salaries, 3% discount rate, and assume salary growth declines from 6% to 2% over career. Individual results will vary. | Powered by Hakia.com
Design and implement complete web solutions from database to user interface
Guide technical decisions and mentor junior developers on web development teams
Design enterprise web architectures and technology strategies for organizations
Based on 742 programs from IPEDS 2024
Ranking 16 master's web development programs by graduation rate, selectivity, outcomes, and price, New York University's Master's in Web Development comes out first. The Hakia Score is computed from IPEDS 2024 and BLS data with no paid placement. Graduates step into a field where the median wage runs about $92,650.
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 web development 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.
Employment projections and salary data for web developers and digital designers
Graduate earnings, completion rates, and program-specific outcomes data
Institutional characteristics, enrollment, and graduation rate information
Return on investment analysis for computer science and engineering programs
Modern web development master's programs focus heavily on full-stack development skills that prepare graduates for senior engineering roles. Unlike undergraduate programs that cover broad computer science fundamentals, graduate programs dive deep into advanced web technologies, software architecture, and enterprise development practices.
Core curriculum areas include advanced JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue.js, and Angular for frontend development, along with backend technologies including Node.js, Python Django, and cloud-native development. Students learn database design and management with both SQL databases like PostgreSQL and NoSQL solutions like MongoDB. Software engineering principles and design patterns are emphasized throughout the coursework.
Most programs require capstone projects where students build production-ready web applications using modern DevOps practices. This includes continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, containerization with Docker, and cloud deployment on platforms like AWS or Azure. Students also gain experience with testing frameworks, security best practices, and performance optimization techniques.
Many programs also incorporate emerging technologies like artificial intelligence integration, machine learning for web applications, and blockchain development. Students often complete internships with major technology companies, gaining real-world experience while building professional networks. The technical interview preparation component helps graduates secure positions at top-tier companies.
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.