Computer Programming at Bates Technical College

A debt load of $17,750 against first-year earnings of $38,000 creates a manageable starting point, though these figures come from national peer programs rather than Bates Technical College's actual graduate outcomes. The 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio falls comfortably below the 1.0 threshold that signals financial stress, suggesting that similar associate-level programming programs typically produce graduates who can handle their debt payments while building toward higher earnings.

What deserves scrutiny is whether an associate degree adequately prepares students for Washington's competitive tech market. While peer programs nationally produce starting salaries near $38,000, the state's tech sector—particularly in the Seattle-Tacoma corridor—often favors candidates with bachelor's degrees or specialized bootcamp training for development roles. Programming positions accessible with an associate degree tend to cluster in support, testing, or junior development roles that may have limited advancement without additional credentials.

The unusually low Pell grant rate of 9% raises questions about who this program serves and whether financial aid packages align with typical community college students' needs. If you're considering this path, verify what specific programming languages and frameworks Bates emphasizes, and whether local employers in Pierce County actively recruit from their program. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable financial risk, but actual placement rates and employer connections matter more than national benchmarks for a field where local market dynamics can vary dramatically.