Location: Winston-Salem, NC•In-State Tuition: $2,256•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,864
Median Earnings (1yr)
$38,837
63rd percentile
40th percentile in North Carolina
Median Debt
$16,616
11% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.43 ManageableSample: 35 graduates

Analysis

Forsyth Tech's computer science associate's program sits in an uncomfortable middle position: it beats the national median by $3,000 but trails the North Carolina median by $2,000. More concerning, it falls significantly behind nearby community colleges—Wake Tech graduates earn $9,400 more annually, while Durham Tech's program delivers nearly $7,000 more. For a field where starting salaries typically drive long-term earnings potential, that 40th percentile ranking among North Carolina programs suggests students might find better value just an hour away.

The debt picture offers some reassurance. At $16,616, graduates carry manageable debt that's only slightly above state and national medians, resulting in a healthy 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio. With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, the program clearly serves students who need affordable pathways into tech careers. The moderate sample size also means these numbers represent real, sustained outcomes rather than outliers.

Here's the practical consideration: if your child can commute to Forsyth Tech, the combination of reasonable debt and above-national-average earnings makes this a solid choice. But if relocation or a longer commute is already on the table, programs like Wake Tech or Durham Tech offer substantially better earnings for similar debt loads. The $2,000 annual gap versus the state median compounds quickly over a career, making it worth exploring whether those higher-performing programs are within reach.

Where Forsyth Technical Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences associates's programs nationally

Forsyth Technical Community CollegeOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Forsyth Technical Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Forsyth Technical Community College earns $39k — 63th percentile among computer and information sciences associates programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Computer and Information Sciences associates's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (58 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem$2,256$38,837—$16,6160.43
Wake Technical Community CollegeRaleigh$2,336$48,280—$17,6980.37
Durham Technical Community CollegeDurham$1,986$45,847—$9,6670.21
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeAsheville$2,882$41,027———
Central Piedmont Community CollegeCharlotte$2,792$40,854$48,486$10,4560.26
Guilford Technical Community CollegeJamestown$2,319$37,728$33,792$22,7130.60
National Median—$35,760—$14,9320.42

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Forsyth Technical Community College, approximately 41% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 35 graduates with reported earnings and 30 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.