Management Information Systems and Services at Columbia College

Columbia College's MIS program manages a tricky balance: it delivers solid starting salaries around $62,000 with notably low debt ($29,500), but earnings completely stall afterward. That first-year salary beats both the national and Missouri medians—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—which matters when you're competing against a dozen other Missouri programs. The debt load sits in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. For a college serving 44% Pell-eligible students, that restrained borrowing is significant.

The concern is what happens next: zero earnings growth over four years. While graduates at Park University see their salaries climb well past $71,000, Columbia College MIS grads are making essentially the same amount years later. This suggests either limited career mobility or concentration in roles that don't reward experience. At a 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates can manage their loans comfortably right out of college, but they're not building the salary momentum you'd hope to see in a tech-adjacent field.

The math works if you view this as a low-risk entry point into MIS careers—manageable debt, decent starting position, minimal financial stress. But families banking on the typical tech salary trajectory should look closely at why earnings plateau so early here.