Information Science/Studies at Guilford College

Information Science programs across North Carolina show dramatically higher earnings than what peer programs nationally suggest for Guilford graduates. The state median of $73,500 exceeds the national benchmark by nearly $15,000, which puts the estimated $58,651 figure—derived from national patterns—substantially below what NC employers typically pay. UNC-Chapel Hill and Strayer grads are seeing $75,000+ in first-year earnings, suggesting the state's tech sector offers strong opportunities that this estimate may not capture.

The estimated debt of $26,694 appears manageable against even the conservative national earnings figure, translating to a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio. If actual outcomes track closer to state norms, graduates would be earning nearly three times their debt load in their first year. That said, Guilford serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (44%), and smaller program sizes that trigger data suppression sometimes correlate with less established industry pipelines—factors that could explain earnings below the state average.

The gap between estimated and state-typical earnings is the central uncertainty here. If Guilford's career services and employer network can connect graduates to the same tech corridor serving UNC-Chapel Hill, the program could substantially outperform these projections. But if the national estimate proves accurate, you'd be looking at roughly $15,000 less annually than comparable NC programs deliver—a meaningful difference that compounds over a career.