Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Bossier Parish Community College

A short-term IT credential with estimated first-year earnings of $37,000 and debt around $14,700 might initially seem manageable—that's a debt burden equal to about 40% of your first year's income. But here's the catch: those earnings figures come from national data across 25 similar programs, while Louisiana's own networking programs tell a different story. The one Louisiana school with actual reported outcomes shows graduates earning just $28,518, nearly $8,400 less than the national median used for this estimate.

That gap matters tremendously. If Bossier Parish's actual outcomes track closer to Louisiana norms than national ones, you'd be looking at debt representing more than half your first-year salary instead of 40%—a much tighter financial picture for a certificate program. The field itself is solid, with strong demand for networking technicians, but short-term credentials in this space can produce widely varying results depending on how well they align with local employer needs and whether students complete industry certifications alongside coursework.

Given the uncertainty and Louisiana's lower-than-national outcomes in this field, treat that estimated debt figure as a ceiling, not a target. If your child can complete this program with significantly less borrowing—or better yet, through employer sponsorship or other funding—it becomes a much safer bet than taking on the full estimated amount.