Management Information Systems and Services at Elizabethtown College

Similar MIS programs across Pennsylvania suggest first-year earnings around $56,600, which trails the national median by about $3,000 and falls well short of what graduates from Villanova or Drexel command. The estimated $26,600 in debt produces a manageable ratio of 0.47—meaning total debt represents less than half of first year income—but that metric only tells part of the story when the starting salary itself is modest for a technology-focused business degree.

What's concerning is the gap between Elizabethtown's peer program outcomes and Pennsylvania's top performers in this field. Temple graduates are earning roughly $3,000 more, while Villanova and Drexel alumni start $16,000 to $22,000 higher. For a field where technical skills and employer networks matter enormously, that spread suggests significant variation in curriculum rigor, industry connections, or both. The 19% Pell Grant rate and 77% admission rate indicate Elizabethtown serves a different student population than these competitors, but parents should probe whether the school's MIS program has the corporate partnerships and technical depth to justify its price point.

The debt level appears reasonable compared to what students at similar programs typically borrow, but that's cold comfort when earnings lag behind both state and national benchmarks. Before committing, demand specifics: which companies recruit on campus for MIS roles, what percentage of graduates land jobs requiring their technical training, and how the curriculum compares to programs producing stronger outcomes.