Computer Science at Bunker Hill Community College

Bunker Hill's Computer Science associate program sits right at the Massachusetts median for earnings, which tells you something important about the Bay State's tech market: even community college grads here face steep competition. While $30,332 first-year earnings might sound low compared to the $39,000 national median for CS associate degrees, you're comparing Boston wages to schools across rural America where living costs differ dramatically.

The debt picture looks more favorable. At just $9,000—among the lowest nationally for this degree—students graduate with manageable payments even on those initial salaries. That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers would dedicate roughly three months of gross pay to clear their loans, far better than many bachelor's programs. For families watching their budget, this represents a genuine low-risk entry point into tech.

The caveat matters here: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures could shift considerably year to year. But the fundamental value proposition holds—Bunker Hill offers an affordable pathway to tech employment in one of America's most expensive job markets. Students serious about maximizing earnings should view this as a stepping stone, either to a bachelor's degree or into entry-level positions that provide on-the-job training. Starting modest but debt-light beats starting broke.