Computer Programming at Kent State University at Kent

Kent State's Associate's in Computer Programming comes with a critical asterisk: fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, making these numbers less reliable than typical program data. Still, what we can see raises questions about value. Graduates earn $36,388 after one year—landing at the 25th percentile nationally but precisely at Ohio's median for this degree. The problem isn't necessarily Kent State; it's that Ohio's computer programming associate degrees collectively underperform the national benchmark by about $1,700 annually.

The debt load of $20,729 translates to a 0.57 ratio with first-year earnings, which is manageable. Yet the complete absence of earnings growth—just $400 over four years—is troubling for a technology field where skills should compound in value. Compare this to Cincinnati State's programming graduates who earn $56,000, demonstrating that strong outcomes are possible within Ohio's community college system.

For parents, the fundamental concern is paying college debt for earnings that barely exceed what many retail management positions offer, without the credential requirement. If your child is set on Kent State, investigate whether the four-year Computer Science program offers better trajectories. Otherwise, Cincinnati State's track record suggests it's worth the commute or relocation for nearly 50% higher earnings in the same field.