Location: Ashland, KY•In-State Tuition: $4,656•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,192
Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated
$36,332
Est. from KY median (9 programs)
Est. Median DebtEstimated
$10,875
Est. from KY median (9 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

Based on comparable programs across Kentucky's community college system, this certificate appears positioned right at the state median—$36,332 in first-year earnings with an estimated $10,875 in debt. That's a manageable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning roughly four months of gross income to cover the full debt load. However, it's worth noting that similar programs at Gateway CTC and Jefferson CTC produce earnings $9,000 to $5,000 higher annually, suggesting location and local job markets matter considerably for tech credentials in Kentucky.

The estimated debt figure aligns closely with the national median for these certificates, which is reassuring for a program serving 43% Pell-eligible students. Where this certificate falls short is earnings: the national median sits about $2,500 higher. For a one-year credential, that gap compounds quickly over a career. Computer science certificates can be effective stepping stones into IT support, help desk, or junior developer roles, but outcomes clearly vary by institution even within the same state system.

The practical question is whether Ashland's local tech job market can support these earnings or whether your student would need to relocate to Lexington or Louisville for better opportunities. If the plan is to stay in eastern Kentucky, verify what local employers actually hire for—this credential might serve best as a foundation for further education rather than a terminal degree.

Where Ashland Community and Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences certificate's programs nationally

Ashland Community and Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Computer and Information Sciences certificate's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (17 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Ashland Community and Technical CollegeAshland$4,656$36,332*—$10,875*—
Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence$4,656$45,428*—$10,313*0.23
Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville$4,706$41,543*—$14,082*0.34
Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville$4,656$39,342*—$10,500*0.27
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington$4,706$37,019*—$14,823*0.40
West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah$4,656$36,332*—$10,875*0.30
National Median—$38,858*—$11,000*0.28
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Ashland Community and Technical College, approximately 43% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 9 similar programs in KY. Actual outcomes may vary.