Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Clackamas Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 suggests this program could make financial sense—roughly five months of first-year salary to cover borrowed costs—but there's meaningful uncertainty here. Since Clackamas had too few graduates to report outcomes, these figures come from national medians across similar IT administration associate's programs. The $41,752 earnings estimate represents the middle of the pack nationally, while the $17,500 debt figure is actually below the typical $21,480 that graduates of these programs carry. That lower debt estimate, if accurate, would be a genuine advantage.

The challenge is that IT administration associate's degrees serve vastly different purposes depending on the program—some are career launchers for help desk and support roles, others are stepping stones toward bachelor's degrees, and many students already work in tech and just need the credential. Without knowing where Clackamas's specific graduates land or what the local Oregon tech market pays for associate's-level IT work, it's hard to assess whether $42,000 represents entry-level earnings or something closer to the ceiling.

For parents, the key question is whether your student has a clear plan for this degree. If they're heading into an identified job opportunity or transferring to complete a bachelor's, the modest debt load makes this a reasonable path. But if they're hoping the degree alone will open doors in Oregon's competitive tech scene, understanding what kinds of positions this specific program actually prepares graduates for—and what those pay locally—becomes essential before committing.