Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Bryan University

When 77% of your students receive Pell grants, keeping debt manageable matters more than reaching the absolute highest earnings. Based on peer programs nationally, Bryan University's networking program estimates first-year earnings around $43,300, which tracks closely with the national and Missouri medians for this field. The estimated $32,900 in debt—significantly above Missouri's typical $14,300 for similar programs—means graduates would need roughly 76% of their first year's salary to clear that balance.

Here's the complication: actual four-year earnings for this program come in at $32,300, well below the first-year estimate. That drop is unusual and suggests something isn't translating from initial placement to sustained career growth. Whether graduates are landing in less stable positions, leaving the field, or facing regional wage constraints isn't clear from the data alone, but it's worth investigating directly with the school.

The debt load becomes more concerning when earnings decline rather than grow. While the program's estimated first-year outcomes align with state averages, that higher-than-typical debt combined with falling earnings creates real financial pressure. Before committing, ask Bryan University specifically about job placement rates, what happens to graduates between years one and four, and whether students with this debt load are successfully managing their payments.