Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Daytona State College

Peer programs nationally suggest this certificate produces first-year earnings around $42,271, with estimated debt of $12,500—a ratio of 0.30 that falls comfortably within reasonable territory for a short-term credential. That's close to the national median and slightly above what similar Florida programs typically generate. The modest debt load means graduates would need to put roughly 30% of their first-year salary toward debt, a manageable burden for an IT credential that can be completed relatively quickly.

The challenge here is that these figures are drawn from comparable programs elsewhere, not from tracking actual Daytona State graduates. Florida's IT certificate landscape is crowded—59 schools offer this credential—and outcomes at peer institutions like St. Petersburg College and Miami Dade hover in the $39,000-$41,000 range. That suggests the national estimate might be reasonably accurate for this market, but there's no guarantee Daytona State's specific program performs at that level. With 34% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are making this decision with limited financial cushion.

The estimated numbers point to a potentially sound investment: low debt for a credential in a growing field. But without actual graduate outcomes, you're buying based on the broader IT certificate market rather than this program's proven track record. If your student can connect with recent graduates or the program's career services office to understand actual job placement, that would help fill the gap these estimates leave open.