Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Community College of Allegheny County

The small sample size here is a red flag—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, which means one or two outliers could skew everything. That said, Community College of Allegheny County's IT management program shows a tension worth understanding: it sits right at Pennsylvania's median for earnings ($35,049), but graduates carry dramatically less debt than the typical in-state competitor ($13,750 vs. $25,849 statewide). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 means students owe roughly five months of their first-year salary, which is manageable by most standards.

The challenge is that $35,000 starting salary. While it's respectable for an associate's degree, Pennsylvania has several programs producing significantly stronger outcomes—Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates earn 44% more, and even Harrisburg Area Community College's nearby program starts at $41,699. The national comparison is less encouraging: this program ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of similar programs nationwide deliver higher earnings.

For families prioritizing affordability over maximum earning potential, the math works. Your child graduates with minimal debt and enters the workforce quickly. But if they're capable of getting into one of Pennsylvania's stronger programs, the extra $6,000-$15,000 in annual earnings could easily justify slightly higher upfront costs. Given the limited data here, I'd want confirmation that recent cohorts are seeing similar outcomes before committing.