Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Centura College-Newport News

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 looks manageable on paper—similar Virginia IT programs suggest first-year earnings around $49,000 against roughly $26,000 in loans. That's well within the conventional one-to-one guideline for borrowing. However, the actual four-year earnings figure of $35,269 tells a different story. When graduates are earning $14,000 less four years out than they were earning in year one, something has gone sideways—whether that's incomplete career progression, job instability, or graduates leaving the field entirely.

This downward earnings trajectory is particularly concerning given that 80% of students here receive Pell grants, meaning most families have limited financial cushion if this investment doesn't pay off. Compare this to Northern Virginia Community College, where IT associate degree holders earn nearly $55,000, or even ECPI University at $43,000. While those are different programs with their own contexts, the gap suggests parents should investigate why Centura's outcomes diverge so sharply, especially when the initial year looks competitive. The fact that both the debt and first-year earnings figures are estimates based on peer programs rather than this school's actual track record adds another layer of uncertainty—you're essentially betting on whether Centura's graduates will match or beat what similar programs produce, while knowing the four-year number already lags significantly behind.