Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Herzing University-Birmingham

Herzing University-Birmingham's networking program outperforms its limited in-state competition—at $43,901 in first-year earnings, graduates earn $4,000 more than Alabama's median for this degree and roughly $8,000 more than graduates from the state's other tracked program. Nationally, this places Birmingham students in the 61st percentile, solidly above the typical outcome for associate-level networking programs. The 14% earnings growth to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests graduates are building marketable skills that translate into career progression.

The debt picture reinforces this program's value: at $30,649, graduates borrow about $9,000 more than the national median but $4,000 less than Alabama's state average for the same credential. More importantly, the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio means a graduate could theoretically pay off their loans in less than nine months if they dedicated their entire first-year salary to it—a reasonable burden for a two-year degree. That this program serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (64%) while still delivering above-average outcomes is noteworthy.

For parents weighing an associate degree against entering the workforce directly, this program offers a clear earnings premium over Alabama's typical entry-level jobs, with manageable debt and demonstrated job market success. In a state with few competing options for networking credentials, Herzing-Birmingham appears to be delivering solid training.