Computer and Information Sciences at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College

A two-year IT degree from Eastern West Virginia carries an estimated debt load of $12,500—lower than the national median for associate's programs in this field. Combined with projected first-year earnings around $35,700 based on comparable computer science programs nationwide, that translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, meaning graduates would owe roughly four months of their annual salary.

The challenge with evaluating this specific program is that both the earnings and debt figures are national estimates rather than reported outcomes from Eastern West Virginia's own graduates. The school's small graduating class size means the Department of Education suppresses the actual data. What we do know is that associate's degrees in computer science vary considerably in outcome—the national 75th percentile reaches $41,700, suggesting that stronger programs or students landing better positions can earn significantly more. Geography matters too: tech job markets in rural West Virginia differ dramatically from those near major metros, which could push actual outcomes either direction from these national benchmarks.

For families considering this program, the estimated debt level is reasonable enough that even if earnings come in below projections, repayment shouldn't be crushing. However, the lack of school-specific data means you're essentially betting on national averages applying to a small community college in rural Appalachia. If your student can connect with recent alumni or the career services office to understand actual job placement rates and typical employers, that ground-level information would be far more valuable than these statistical estimates.