Computer Programming at Community College of Allegheny County

This Pittsburgh-area community college manages to outperform most Pennsylvania programming programs while saddling students with significantly more debt than typical—a combination that demands scrutiny. The $42,640 starting salary beats 60% of PA programs and ranks in the 68th percentile nationally, but the $22,203 debt load sits in just the 7th percentile (meaning 93% of programs leave students with less debt). That's $4,000 more than the state median and $5,000 above the national average for associate-level programming.

The 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates earn roughly twice what they owe—but it's worth questioning why a community college program costs this much. Most two-year programs in this field keep debt substantially lower while still launching careers. The earnings advantage over other Pennsylvania schools (including Pittsburgh Technical College, where graduates earn $9,000 less) might justify the premium if these results hold steady, but the sample size here is tiny—fewer than 30 graduates.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, the numbers work on paper: graduates can reasonably expect to repay this debt while earning above-average salaries for an associate degree. The concern is whether you're getting community college affordability or paying more for uncertain returns. If this matches other local two-year options on net cost, the earnings justify enrollment. If it's significantly pricier, demand answers about why.