Management Information Systems and Services at Azusa Pacific University

Is $26,581 in debt worth it for an MIS degree when California's tech landscape offers vastly different outcomes depending on where you study? Based on comparable programs, Azusa Pacific's estimated debt load sits above both the state median ($19,995) and national median ($24,000) for this major, while first-year earnings appear to track right at the state average of $61,359. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 isn't alarming on its surface, but it requires context from what we know about actual outcomes elsewhere in California.

The gap between top performers and the middle tier in California is stark. Santa Clara and National University graduates are breaking $90,000 in their first year—more than 50% higher than what similar programs typically produce. Even UC Irvine graduates start around $68,000. This spread suggests that in California's competitive tech market, the specific school's network and recruiting relationships matter enormously for MIS graduates. Without actual earnings data for Azusa Pacific's program, you're essentially betting on whether their placement outcomes mirror the state average or fall below it.

The practical concern here is opportunity cost. At higher-than-average debt with middle-of-the-pack estimated earnings, you'd need confirmation that Azusa Pacific's career services and employer connections can actually deliver those outcomes. Request specific placement data from the school—where recent MIS graduates are working and what they're earning—before committing to debt that exceeds what students at peer programs are typically borrowing.