Management Information Systems and Services at Eckerd College

Based on comparable MIS programs in Florida, graduates typically earn around $56,000 in their first year—which aligns with the state median but trails the national benchmark of $59,490 by a meaningful margin. At this earning level, Florida's MIS graduates generally finish well behind peer states, and the fact that Eckerd's program sits at the Florida average rather than pushing above it matters when you consider the alternatives available even within the state.

The estimated debt load of $26,581 comes from similar private institutions nationally and exceeds both Florida's typical MIS debt ($21,076) and the national median ($24,000). That 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its own, but it reflects a pattern common to smaller private colleges: higher borrowing for outcomes that don't necessarily outpace larger public universities. Florida State and USF, for instance, report actual earnings at $66,252 and $55,972 respectively—the latter matching Eckerd's estimated figure while likely carrying less debt for in-state students.

The fundamental question is whether Eckerd's small-college experience justifies the premium when the estimated outcomes suggest you'd be paying more for similar or potentially lower earnings than what Florida's public MIS programs deliver. Given the limited data on this specific program and the availability of established alternatives with documented track records, you'd want concrete evidence—internship networks, job placement support, or industry partnerships—that would close that gap before committing.