Computer and Information Sciences at Florida Career College-Miami

Florida Career College-Miami's computer science associate's program shows identical earnings whether graduates are fresh out of school or four years into their careers—both hover around $34,000. While this falls short of the national median by about $2,000, it actually performs at the median for Florida programs in this field, placing in the 60th percentile statewide. The $18,391 in typical debt is manageable at roughly half a year's salary, and significantly lower than what many four-year programs demand.

The catch is that complete earnings stagnation. Computer science careers typically see steady growth as workers gain experience and skills, but this program's graduates aren't seeing that pattern. Whether that reflects the nature of available entry-level IT jobs in Miami or limitations in the curriculum is unclear from this data. With 74% of students receiving Pell grants, this school serves economically disadvantaged students who may have limited alternatives, making the comparison to pricier options less straightforward.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For a parent weighing this option, the debt load is reasonable enough that if your child needs a local, flexible program to enter IT work quickly, the downside risk is limited. Just understand they'll likely need additional certifications or a bachelor's degree later to see meaningful salary progression beyond that $34,000 starting point.