Computer and Information Sciences at Columbia College

Columbia College's computer science associate's program posts impressive first-year earnings of $47,167—outperforming 91% of similar programs nationwide and coming in 32% above the national median. That's a strong start for a two-year degree. However, the $29,112 debt load is nearly double the national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. While that's not catastrophic, it's worth noting that most comparable programs leave graduates with far less debt.

The comparison within Missouri is harder to interpret—this program sits at the 60th percentile statewide, but with only 6 schools offering the program in the state, that's essentially middle-of-the-pack among limited options. The real red flag here is the small sample size (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could swing dramatically with just a few students' outcomes. The earnings advantage could be real, or it could reflect a couple of exceptional graduates skewing the data.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: your child would likely earn well above typical associate-level IT wages but take on twice the usual debt to get there. If they're confident about entering the tech workforce immediately after graduation and can minimize borrowing through scholarships or work, the earnings potential justifies the cost. But given the data uncertainty, treat these numbers as promising rather than guaranteed—and make sure that debt level is manageable regardless of whether outcomes match expectations.