Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Lakeshore Technical College

Drawing on outcomes from comparable Wisconsin IT programs, this associate's degree appears positioned right at the state median, with estimated first-year earnings around $42,300. That's nearly identical to the national benchmark for this credential, suggesting Wisconsin's technical college system produces relatively consistent outcomes in this field. The estimated debt load of $15,500 creates a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio—well below the concerning threshold of 1.0.

However, the comparison to other Wisconsin technical colleges reveals significant variation. Madison Area grads earn $54,800 in their first year—nearly $12,500 more than what peer programs at similar schools typically produce. Even mid-tier programs like Waukesha County and Western Technical show outcomes $4,000 higher than the state median this estimate is based on. Whether these differences reflect stronger employer networks, curriculum variations, or regional job markets isn't clear from the data alone, but they're substantial enough to matter in your child's financial picture.

The fundamentals here aren't bad: an affordable debt load for a credential in a field with decent demand. But if your child has options among Wisconsin's technical colleges for IT training, the earnings gap between top and median programs is worth investigating. The difference between $42,000 and $55,000 in starting salary compounds quickly over a career.