Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Laurel Ridge Community College

In Virginia's IT training landscape, peer programs suggest first-year earnings around $49,000—right at the state median but well above what most comparable programs produce nationally. The estimated debt load of $17,500 sits comfortably below both state and national benchmarks, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 that positions this program favorably against typical community college IT credentials.

The challenge is context: we're working with estimates here because this specific program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish outcomes. Virginia's IT associate degree programs show enormous variation—from Northern Virginia Community College's $55,000 graduates down to Bryant & Stratton's $32,000—making it difficult to predict where Laurel Ridge graduates will actually land. Location matters significantly in tech; Middletown's distance from Northern Virginia's tech corridor could mean the state median overstates realistic outcomes for this particular college.

The relatively modest debt estimate offers some protection against downside risk. Even if actual earnings fall 20% below the state average, graduates would face manageable payments. For parents, the key question is whether their student can access the higher-paying IT jobs that drive Virginia's median upward, or whether they'll compete in a more limited regional market where outcomes cluster lower.