Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Dakota College at Bottineau

In North Dakota's small IT program landscape, peer data suggests this associate's degree lands in familiar territory: roughly $42,000 in first-year earnings against an estimated $17,500 in debt. That 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper—you'd be borrowing less than half a year's salary to launch an IT career.

The catch is that we're working with estimates here, not actual outcomes from Dakota College at Bottineau. With only four schools offering this program in North Dakota, the range of results can vary significantly. Rasmussen University-North Dakota reports $42,043 for their graduates, which aligns with the state median, but individual program quality, internship connections, and local employer relationships can shift outcomes considerably. The estimated debt figure is notably lower than the $21,480 national median, which could reflect either North Dakota's lower cost of living or the specifics of how Bottineau structures its program.

For anxious parents, the fundamental question is whether this community college can deliver the hands-on training and employer connections that make IT associate's degrees valuable. Visit campus, talk to current students about job placements, and ask what percentage of graduates land IT roles versus retail jobs with computer skills. The numbers suggest a workable investment if the program delivers—but you're betting on execution without school-specific proof.