Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at International Business College-Indianapolis

Is nearly $33,000 in debt reasonable for an IT networking associate's degree? Based on comparable programs nationally, that's about 50% higher than typical borrowing for this credential. While the estimated first-year earnings of $43,000 align with what similar programs produce nationwide, starting with debt three-quarters the size of your first paycheck creates immediate financial pressure that many peer programs avoid.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates—both the earnings and debt figures come from similar programs elsewhere since this school's graduate pool is too small for the DOE to publish actual outcomes. That means we don't know if International Business College's specific career services, employer connections, or curriculum produce better or worse results than the national baseline. What we do know is that 50% of students here receive Pell grants, suggesting many families are already financially stretched before taking on above-average debt loads.

For IT networking roles, technical skills matter more than the institution name, which can work in graduates' favor. But that also means families should question whether this program justifies borrowing $11,000 more than typical for the same credential. Without concrete evidence that this school's graduates outperform their peers, that debt premium represents real financial risk with no clear offsetting benefit.