Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at CBT Technology Institute-Hialeah

A debt load around $10,400 for an IT certificate appears manageable at first glance—that's below what similar programs typically charge. But something unexpected happens after graduation: while comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings near $42,000, graduates here actually earn $35,271 by year four, a backward slide that's hard to explain. IT roles usually follow a different trajectory.

That earnings dip matters more than usual at CBT Technology Institute-Hialeah, where every student qualifies for Pell grants. These are families who can't afford to gamble on credentials that don't perform. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 looks fine on paper, but it's calculated against an estimated first-year figure that doesn't match the school's actual reported outcomes. Other Florida certificate programs at St. Petersburg College and Miami Dade College show graduates earning more four years out—and those are community colleges with lower tuition structures to begin with.

The core problem is uncertainty. Without actual earnings data from this program's recent graduates, you're betting on national averages while the one number the school does report suggests weaker performance. For a working-class family in Hialeah, that's a risky position. If your child needs IT training, programs with transparent track records at Florida's public colleges offer clearer value.