Computer and Information Sciences at Brunswick Community College

A $12,625 debt load for a certificate that positions graduates near $36,000 in first-year earnings—based on comparable North Carolina programs—creates a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's below the national median debt of $11,000 by only a modest margin, but the earnings estimate aligns closely with what similar programs across the state produce. The challenge? Brunswick Community College serves a rural coastal area where tech job density likely doesn't match the Research Triangle, where top NC programs like Wake Tech and Durham Tech report earnings 30-50% higher with actual graduate data.

The estimation here matters because we're drawing from just six state programs for earnings and seven for debt—a thin sample that may not reflect Brunswick's specific regional employment landscape. Similar certificate programs nationally hit $38,858, suggesting the state estimate might be conservative, but Bolivia's location 30 miles from Wilmington could limit local opportunities compared to programs near Charlotte or Raleigh. The 32% Pell grant population indicates this program serves students who need credentials that pay off quickly, and at roughly three months of gross income to cover the debt, the math works if graduates can access the jobs these estimates assume.

For families in southeastern NC, this certificate offers a plausible entry point into tech work without catastrophic debt, but verify local employer demand before committing. The gap between Brunswick's estimated outcomes and what Wake or Durham Tech actually deliver suggests location shapes outcomes as much as the curriculum itself.