Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Lane Community College

Lane Community College's IT administration program carries estimated first-year debt of $17,500—below the national median for these programs—while comparable programs nationwide suggest starting earnings around $41,752. By year four, actual reported earnings jump to $47,761, suggesting modest but real salary progression. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 falls comfortably within manageable territory, meaning graduates would theoretically owe less than half their first year's salary.

What makes these estimates particularly uncertain is the limited data pool. With no Oregon programs reporting comparable outcomes and only 43 similar institutions nationally contributing debt figures, these projections rest on a narrow foundation. The four-year earnings figure is actual data from Lane's graduates, which provides one solid anchor point, but the starting salary and debt load are educated guesses based on peer schools that may operate in very different labor markets or serve different student populations.

The practical question for parents: Is an associate degree in IT administration worth roughly $17,500 in Oregon's tech market? The four-year earnings suggest graduates do find decent-paying work, but whether that trajectory starts near $42,000 or significantly higher or lower remains genuinely unknown for this specific program. Given Lane's substantial Pell grant population and Oregon's strong tech sector, the fundamentals look reasonable, but you're investing based on national patterns rather than proven local outcomes.