Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Hinds Community College

Based on comparable programs nationally, this associate's degree projects first-year earnings around $41,752—roughly $20,000 below what similar IT programs in Mississippi typically produce. That gap is striking. The state's median for this field sits at $61,810, suggesting stronger programs exist nearby that lead to markedly different outcomes. Whether Hinds' curriculum focuses on different IT specializations or simply serves a different employer market isn't clear from the data, but parents should understand their child might be entering the workforce at a significant earnings disadvantage compared to peers graduating from other Mississippi IT programs.

The estimated debt of $17,500 keeps the financial risk manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that most graduates could handle. That's actually below the national median debt for this program type. The four-year earnings figure of $43,436 shows minimal growth, though, which raises questions about whether this credential opens doors to advancement or leads to a plateau.

Before committing, your child should talk directly to Hinds about where their IT graduates actually land jobs and what those roles pay. The $20,000 gap between this program's projected outcomes and the state median is too large to ignore without understanding why it exists. If other Mississippi options are geographically feasible, compare them carefully—the difference could mean an extra $80,000 over four years of early career earnings.