Management Information Systems and Services at California State University-Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach's MIS program starts graduates at earnings well below what they'll need to capitalize on the field—$48,825 in year one puts them in just the 25th percentile among California programs and even lower nationally. That's about $12,500 less than the typical California graduate and nearly $30,000 behind top state programs like UC Irvine. For a technical degree that should command strong initial salaries, this is a significant gap.

The silver lining is remarkable growth: earnings jump 59% to $77,649 by year four, eventually surpassing both state and national medians. Combined with exceptionally low debt of $12,750 (half the state average), the program becomes financially viable once graduates gain experience. The 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio is excellent by any standard.

However, those first few years matter. In California's competitive tech market, starting $20,000+ behind peers from comparable CSU programs means lost compounding earnings and potentially fewer advancement opportunities. This program works best for students who can afford to play the long game—those with family support or minimal living expenses who can weather lower starting salaries to eventually reach solid mid-career earnings. Families banking on immediate post-graduation income to justify the investment should look carefully at that first-year number.