Security Science and Technology at Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies

Indiana's security programs typically launch graduates near $45,000 in first-year earnings—notably higher than what comparable national programs suggest for this bachelor's degree. The estimated $39,000 starting point here, derived from peer programs nationwide, sits below that state benchmark and essentially flatlines by year four at $39,083. For a field where technical skills usually command steady salary growth, this stagnation is worth questioning.

The estimated $27,000 debt load—based on similar programs at this institution—translates to a manageable 0.69 ratio against first-year earnings. That's reasonable debt for a bachelor's degree, and the monthly payments should be workable even at these salary levels. However, with over half of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are banking on upward mobility that the four-year earnings data doesn't clearly demonstrate.

The real concern is the gap between this program's trajectory and what Indiana's security sector actually pays. If other Indiana schools are graduating students into $45,000 jobs while earnings here remain flat into year four, something's disconnected—whether it's curriculum, employer networks, or the types of security roles graduates pursue. Before committing, pin down where this program's graduates actually land and whether those outcomes justify choosing it over alternatives with stronger demonstrated earnings in your own state.