Analysis
North Carolina's community colleges produce varied outcomes in computer science, and Brunswick appears to land in the middle of the pack based on peer programs. Similar associate's programs across the state suggest first-year earnings around $40,850, which tracks closely with the national median for this credential. That puts graduates roughly $7,000 behind top performers like Wake Tech but still competitive with what most two-year programs deliver in this field.
The debt picture looks manageable at an estimated $15,300βjust slightly above the national median and translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.4. For a technical credential that typically opens doors to entry-level IT positions, that's reasonable leverage, especially for the third of students here receiving Pell grants who might otherwise struggle to access tech careers. The coastal location might limit immediate local job opportunities compared to programs near Raleigh-Durham or Charlotte, where tech employment concentrations are higher.
The caveat matters: these figures reflect what similar North Carolina programs produce, not Brunswick's specific outcomes. If you're serious about this path, connect with their career services office to understand where recent graduates actually land jobs and what employers recruit from their program. The fundamentals suggest solid value, but location and employer connections will determine whether your student captures that upside or needs to relocate for better opportunities.
Where Brunswick Community College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina
Computer and Information Sciences associates's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (58 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,532 | $40,854* | β | $15,337* | β | |
| $2,336 | $48,280* | β | $17,698* | 0.37 | |
| $1,986 | $45,847* | β | $9,667* | 0.21 | |
| $2,882 | $41,027* | β | β* | β | |
| $2,792 | $40,854* | $48,486 | $10,456* | 0.26 | |
| $2,256 | $38,837* | β | $16,616* | 0.43 | |
| National Median | β | $35,760* | β | $14,932* | 0.42 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Software Developers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Computer Network Architects
Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
Information Security Analysts
Database Administrators
Database Architects
Data Warehousing Specialists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Brunswick Community College, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.