Est. Earnings (1yr)
$56,616
Est. from PA median (6 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,581
Est. from national median (28 programs)

Analysis

Pennsylvania's MIS programs show dramatic earnings variation, with top performers like Villanova hitting nearly $79,000 while others struggle below $52,000. DeSales sits in the middle of this pack—peer programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $56,600, which trails the national median for this degree by about $3,000. That's not disastrous, but it's also not competitive when similarly-priced state schools might deliver comparable outcomes.

The estimated $26,600 in debt creates a manageable but unremarkable financial picture. The 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio means roughly half of first-year income would cover the full debt burden—workable, but not the kind of strong return that stands out in a field where job prospects typically justify the investment. With nearly four times as many students attending Drexel's program and earning $16,000 more out of the gate, the value calculation here depends heavily on what DeSales offers beyond the raw numbers.

For a private school with a 79% admission rate, this estimated profile suggests a standard outcome: decent MIS preparation without exceptional placement power. If your child has specific reasons to choose DeSales—campus culture, location, particular faculty—the financial projections won't sink them. But if it's purely about career ROI in tech, the lack of standout earnings data compared to accessible alternatives warrants a hard look at whether the premium for this program delivers measurable advantages.

Where DeSales University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all management information systems and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Management Information Systems and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (25 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
DeSales UniversityCenter Valley$44,800$56,616*—$26,581*—
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$78,703*$100,271—*—
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia$60,663$72,332*$86,476$29,933*0.41
Temple UniversityPhiladelphia$22,082$59,385*$70,478$27,000*0.45
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main CampusIndiana$11,380$53,846*$63,223$27,000*0.50
Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaShippensburg$13,544$51,195*$69,621$26,900*0.53
National Median—$59,490*—$24,000*0.40
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with management information systems and services graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At DeSales University, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.