Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Johnson County Community College

Is an associate's degree in IT administration worth borrowing for when the full picture remains unclear? At Johnson County Community College, the numbers we can piece together from comparable programs suggest a workable but unremarkable value proposition.

Based on national peers offering this credential, graduates might expect around $42,000 in first-year earnings—essentially matching what other Kansas IT programs produce. The estimated $17,500 in debt sits notably below both state and national benchmarks for these programs, which is promising. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 indicates borrowers could theoretically dedicate about 40% of first-year income to loans and clear them within a year, though few graduates actually follow that path. More realistically, standard repayment would consume a manageable portion of monthly income for someone earning in the low-40s.

What matters most here is recognizing the uncertainty. These figures come from similar programs elsewhere, not from tracking JCCC's actual graduates in this field. The college's low Pell enrollment (16%) suggests it serves a relatively affluent student body, which could mean more students graduate debt-free or with family support—but it tells us nothing about whether this specific program delivers strong employment connections or relevant skills. If your child needs to borrow the full estimated amount, the math works on paper, but you're making that bet without knowing how JCCC's particular version of this program performs in the Kansas City job market.