Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County

This certificate program keeps debt remarkably low—just $7,403 compared to nearly $12,000 statewide—but the earnings lag tells an important story. Starting at $38,091, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the Ohio median for IT certificates and fall in the 40th percentile among state programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 looks attractive on paper, meaning you'd need less than three months of gross income to repay the debt. However, when similar programs across Ohio deliver higher starting salaries for roughly the same credential, you're trading immediate earning power for debt savings.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing considerably with just a few different outcomes. Only 16% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting this program may primarily serve students with existing family support or employer backing. For context, MyComputerCareer at Columbus—also serving the Ohio market—shows graduates earning $46,099, nearly $8,000 more annually right out of the gate.

If minimizing debt is the absolute priority and your child has a guaranteed IT job lined up locally, this program accomplishes that goal efficiently. But if maximizing early-career earnings matters—and in tech fields, that first salary often sets your trajectory—the below-median performance across both state and national comparisons suggests looking at programs where graduates start higher, even if it means borrowing a few thousand more.