Computer Programming at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

The numbers here are exceptional—if they hold up. Cincinnati State's programming graduates earn $56,000 right out of the gate and hit $67,000 within four years, placing them in the 95th percentile both nationally and among Ohio programs. Compare that to the state median of just $36,000, and you're looking at an earnings advantage of roughly $20,000 per year. With debt around $12,700 (below what many Ohio competitors charge), the financial math is straightforward: graduates are earning 4.4 times what they borrowed in their first year alone.

The concern is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these figures could swing significantly year to year. A few high earners can skew the median dramatically in small cohorts. However, the consistency between the 1-year and 4-year numbers (steady 20% growth without the volatility you'd expect from outliers) suggests these aren't flukes. And the fact that Cincinnati State serves a substantial Pell-eligible population (30%) makes these outcomes even more notable—this isn't just cream-of-the-crop students.

For parents, the takeaway is cautiously optimistic: this program appears to be connecting students to legitimate tech employment at rates far exceeding typical associate programs in programming. Just recognize you're betting on a track record that, while impressive, isn't built on massive graduate volumes.