Computer Programming at ECPI University

ECPI University's computer programming associate degree shows promising earnings growth, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could vary significantly year to year. Graduates start at $41,205 and reach $56,561 within four years—a 37% jump that suggests the technical skills translate to career advancement. While that puts the program solidly in the middle of the pack nationally (62nd percentile), the debt load of $26,878 ranks among the highest in the country at just the 5th percentile.

Here's the practical tradeoff: you're taking on substantially more debt than typical programming graduates—nearly $10,000 above the national median—but earning potential appears competitive. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 means graduates owe about eight months of their first year's salary, which is manageable if those earnings continue climbing. However, with only three Virginia schools reporting data for this program, it's hard to know if this represents a strong in-state option or if the limited competition simply means fewer alternatives.

For families already considering ECPI, this program appears viable if your child can start working immediately after graduation and benefit from that earnings trajectory. But the high debt relative to peers nationwide means graduates will need those strong year-four earnings to justify the investment—and with such a small sample, there's real uncertainty about whether these results are repeatable.