Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Camden County College

Is a two-year IT degree worth $17,500 in debt when the salary picture is unclear? For Camden County College's program, we're working with national estimates that suggest roughly $42,000 in first-year earnings—but comparable programs across New Jersey's ten schools paint a more optimistic picture, with a state median around $51,000. That $9,000 gap matters significantly when you're evaluating return on investment, particularly since the debt estimate here actually runs lower than both state and national medians for similar programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 looks manageable on paper, assuming earnings land near the national estimate. But there's real uncertainty here: peer programs in New Jersey range from Brookdale's $40,000 to Strayer's $62,000, a spread that makes financial planning difficult. For a family with limited resources—and with 39% of students receiving Pell grants, many here fit that profile—not knowing whether your graduate will earn closer to $40,000 or $50,000 creates risk.

The relatively modest estimated debt keeps this from being a red flag, but you're essentially betting that Camden County's outcomes align more closely with New Jersey's higher-earning programs than with the national average. Before committing, talk to the placement office about where recent graduates actually landed and what they're earning—these estimates can't tell you if this specific program delivers the connections and skills that lead to the better end of that salary range.