Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Coastal Pines Technical College

Based on similar IT programs across Georgia, this associate degree comes with an estimated debt load of $17,500—well below both the state median of $25,849 and the national median of $21,480 for this credential. That's a meaningful advantage when first-year earnings hover around $36,000, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.49. While Georgia's IT programs vary dramatically in outcomes—from $36,000 at some schools to over $60,000 at others—this program sits at the state median, suggesting typical rather than standout performance.

The challenge is that without actual graduate outcomes for Coastal Pines, you're making decisions based on how peer programs perform rather than this school's track record. The lower debt helps offset the uncertainty, but it's worth noting that comparable programs nationally earn about $41,750 in the first year—roughly $5,700 more than Georgia's median suggests. For a two-year degree in IT, the estimated numbers here wouldn't trap a graduate in unmanageable debt, but they also don't position someone at the higher end of what's achievable in this field. If your child has options at schools with reported outcomes—particularly those Georgia technical colleges showing earnings in the low-to-mid $40,000s—those might offer more confidence about return on investment.