Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Lehigh Carbon Community College

Lehigh Carbon Community College's Computer Systems Networking program comes with a significant caveat: fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. That said, the pattern here isn't encouraging. Starting earnings of $36,340 fall below both the national median ($43,276) and barely edge out Pennsylvania's state median ($37,112), landing in the 40th percentile statewide. Students finish with $11,309 in debt—much lower than typical—but that's the only clear advantage.

The bigger concern is whether these earnings justify even the modest debt load. A 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable on paper, but when starting salaries sit $7,000 below the national norm for this field, graduates may find themselves competing for the same entry-level positions as peers who earned more marketable credentials elsewhere. Lincoln Technical Institute in Allentown, for instance, reports nearly $1,500 higher starting earnings for what's essentially a neighboring program.

For parents weighing this option, the low debt matters—your child won't be drowning in payments. But if networking and telecommunications is the goal, press the school on job placement specifics and what distinguishes their curriculum. With 430 programs nationwide and middling outcomes in a relatively strong state market for tech careers, this looks more like a fallback option than a strategic investment unless there are compelling local employment connections the data doesn't capture.