Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Edmonds College

A $12,000 investment for a certificate that leads to estimated first-year earnings around $42,000 looks manageable on paper—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 suggests you'd owe roughly three months' salary. The challenge is that both figures come from peer institutions nationally since Edmonds College's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report. With 684 schools offering similar IT administration certificates nationwide, outcomes can vary widely depending on local job markets and each program's industry connections in the Seattle tech corridor.

Washington's position as a tech hub could work in this program's favor, though we can't verify how Edmonds College's specific graduates fare compared to the 23 other IT certificate programs across the state. The estimated $42,000 starting salary would be modest for the Seattle area's cost of living, even for entry-level tech roles. Parents should recognize they're making this decision with borrowed data rather than a proven track record—calling the school directly to ask about recent graduate placements, employer partnerships, and whether these certificates typically lead to jobs or serve as stepping stones to associate degrees would fill critical gaps that estimates can't address.