Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Ashford University

With an estimated debt load of $46,262—significantly higher than the national median of $27,000 for this degree—this program's financial proposition depends heavily on whether actual graduate outcomes match the estimated $58,000 first-year salary drawn from peer institutions nationwide. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 sits in uncomfortable territory: not catastrophic, but high enough that monthly loan payments would consume a meaningful portion of take-home pay for several years.

The challenge here is twofold. First, comparable programs in California show considerable variation in outcomes, from University of Phoenix grads earning $60,401 to UC Santa Cruz grads at $55,773, suggesting that school reputation and program structure matter significantly in this field. Second, without reported data specific to Ashford's graduates, you're essentially betting that their outcomes track with the national average while taking on debt substantially above it. That's a bet that could work out—tech administration skills are in demand—but it's riskier than programs where actual graduate data shows students successfully managing similar debt loads.

The practical question: can your student afford loan payments of roughly $500 monthly on what might be a $58,000 starting salary? If they have other financial support or minimal living expenses, possibly. But if they're counting on this degree alone to launch financial independence, the estimated debt burden makes this a higher-stakes gamble than programs with proven track records at lower cost.