Computer and Information Sciences at Central Piedmont Community College

Central Piedmont's Computer and Information Sciences associate's degree delivers solid early earnings at $40,854—beating the national median by 14% while keeping debt remarkably low at $10,456. That's roughly $5,000 less than the typical NC tech program, giving graduates a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26. While this program sits in the middle of the pack among North Carolina's community college tech programs (60th percentile in the state), the financial fundamentals work in students' favor: you're borrowing about three months' salary to earn near the state median right out of the gate.

The trajectory shows steady improvement, with earnings climbing to $48,486 by year four—a 19% increase that suggests these skills translate into career advancement, not just entry-level jobs. For context, Central Piedmont performs comparably to established programs at Asheville-Buncombe and ahead of Guilford Tech, though it trails Wake Tech's stronger $48,280 starting point. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary, but the data reflects a consistent pattern.

For families weighing the community college tech route, this represents a low-risk entry into Charlotte's growing tech sector. You're getting credentials that employers clearly value, minimal debt burden, and earnings growth that doesn't plateau after graduation. The math works: even first-year earnings cover the total debt nearly four times over.