Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Austin Community College District

Austin Community College's networking program delivers a rare combination: graduates earn substantially more than the national average while carrying half the typical debt. Starting at $47K and climbing to $63K within four years represents a 35% earnings jump that far outpaces most community college tech programs.

Here's the tradeoff Texas families should understand: while this program ranks in the 94th percentile nationally, it sits at the 60th percentile among Texas networking programs. That's not a weakness—it reflects Texas's unusually strong market for tech talent, where even the state median ($38K) trails Austin CC's outcomes. The program ranks behind DeVry and Houston Community College but ahead of Dallas College, and all of these comparisons matter less than the fundamental economics: at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, graduates can realistically pay off their $12K in loans within months of starting work.

The moderate sample size means individual outcomes will vary, but the earnings trajectory from year one to year four suggests this program opens doors to genuine career advancement, not just entry-level positions. For families weighing community college versus four-year options, this represents exactly what an associate's degree should deliver—quick entry into well-paying work without the debt burden that makes bachelor's degrees risky for many students.