Information Science/Studies at Fort Valley State University

Based on comparable Information Science programs in Georgia, Fort Valley State graduates likely start around $51,200—but then something unusual happens. By year four, median earnings drop to $40,626, suggesting significant career instability or employment challenges that peers at Kennesaw State and Georgia Southern don't seem to face. This backward trajectory is rare and concerning, especially given that similar programs statewide typically show steady earnings growth through early career years.

The estimated $25,750 debt load sits right at the national median and creates a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio—if those first-year earnings hold. But when earnings decline rather than rise, loan repayment becomes progressively harder, not easier. The school serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (72%), meaning many graduates have limited family financial cushion if their career path falters. While the initial debt burden looks reasonable on paper, it's built on an earnings estimate that the actual four-year data suggests may be optimistic.

The fundamental challenge here is uncertainty. Without school-specific data on what Fort Valley State's Information Science graduates actually earn in year one, and with troubling year-four outcomes that lag both state peers and national norms by 30-40%, you're making a financial bet with very limited information. If your student has stronger alternatives among Georgia's public universities—where actual outcomes show stable or rising earnings—those deserve serious consideration.