Information Science/Studies at Fayetteville Technical Community College

Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $38,900 for an Information Science associate's degree, with estimated debt near $13,100—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 that falls well within manageable territory. For community college students, particularly the 34% receiving Pell grants at Fayetteville Tech, this represents accessible tech training without the credential inflation of a bachelor's degree. The field rewards practical skills, and associate's graduates can enter roles in IT support, database administration, or information systems while maintaining flexibility to add credentials later if career goals shift.

The challenge with these estimates is that 118 other schools nationwide offer similar programs, and outcomes vary considerably. The national 75th percentile reaches $44,470—nearly $6,000 higher than the median—suggesting that program quality, local job markets, and individual student effort create meaningful differences. North Carolina hosts 25 Information Science programs at this level, but none report sufficient graduate data for direct comparison, leaving parents without clear benchmarks for how Fayetteville Tech specifically performs.

For families weighing this path, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value if your student wants immediate workforce entry in tech support roles. The debt load shouldn't become crushing, and the credential provides a foundation for either employment or transfer to a four-year program. Just recognize you're making this decision with limited visibility into this specific program's track record.