Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at ECPI University

ECPI University's Computer/Information Technology program puts graduates in a tricky position within Virginia's competitive IT market. While first-year earnings of $43,314 beat the national average, they fall well below the state median of $49,028—placing this program in just the 40th percentile among Virginia's 13 IT programs. That gap matters because in-state students are competing directly with graduates from schools like Northern Virginia Community College, whose alumni earn $11,000 more right out of the gate.

The debt load of $23,817 is manageable in absolute terms—roughly half of first-year earnings—and graduates do see solid 21% earnings growth over four years. However, this program serves a heavily Pell-eligible population (49%), and for those students, the opportunity cost is real: spending similar money at a Virginia community college could yield meaningfully higher starting salaries in the same field.

The bottom line: This program gets graduates employed in IT roles and delivers earnings above the national benchmark, but Virginia families should recognize they're paying for middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state with stronger alternatives. If location flexibility exists, community college IT programs in Northern Virginia offer substantially better earnings trajectories at similar or lower debt levels.