Computer Science at Cayuga County Community College

With similar New York computer science associate programs producing first-year earnings around $25,000, this program's estimated $39,000 appears surprisingly strong—though that figure comes from the national median rather than state-level data. The estimated debt of roughly $10,000 creates a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning less than four months of gross income would cover the full loan balance. That's a reasonable financial position for an entry point into tech, particularly when the state's community college programs tend to keep costs contained.

The challenge is uncertainty. With earnings data drawn from only six programs nationally and debt from just four similar New York schools, these estimates have wide confidence intervals. New York's computer science associate programs show significant variation—the actual outcomes at Cayuga could align more with the state's typical $25,000 or exceed it. The smaller percentage of Pell recipients (17%) suggests the student body may have different economic supports than comparison schools, which could influence both completion rates and career outcomes.

Given the estimate limitations, treat this as a calculated risk rather than a sure bet. The worst-case scenario—$25,000 earnings with $10,000 debt—still keeps the ratio under 0.5, which is workable. If your student can complete the degree in two years and immediately enter the workforce, the upfront cost appears modest enough to justify enrollment, but verify the school's actual transfer agreements and employer partnerships before committing.