Computer and Information Sciences at Beal University

An estimated $18,400 in debt for an associate's degree in IT is notably higher than the national median of about $15,000 for this credential. When peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,000, you're looking at a debt load that represents just over half of initial annual income—manageable, but not a bargain. With nearly two-thirds of students receiving Pell grants, this debt figure matters considerably for families already stretching financially.

The earnings picture based on comparable programs nationwide sits right at the national median, which means graduates entering Maine's tech job market would likely start at a middle-of-the-pack salary for this credential. The challenge is whether that $36,000 opening salary translates well in Bangor's economy and whether local employers value this particular associate's degree as readily as they might programs from the state's larger institutions.

The core question is whether the premium you're paying in debt—about $3,500 more than typical for this degree—delivers corresponding advantages in Maine's IT hiring market. Without actual graduate outcomes from Beal or comparable Maine programs to verify employment rates or advancement patterns, you're making this decision based purely on peer program estimates. If your student has alternative pathways to IT credentials at lower cost—community colleges or technical programs with clearer placement records—those deserve serious consideration before committing here.