Management Information Systems and Services at Lincoln Memorial University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 suggests reasonable borrowing levels for this program, though the numbers come with significant uncertainty. Based on national benchmarks for Management Information Systems programs, graduates typically earn around $59,490 in their first year—enough to make a $26,581 debt load manageable under standard repayment plans. However, Tennessee's MIS market tells a different story, with peer programs in the state producing median earnings closer to $50,000, and established programs like University of Memphis and Middle Tennessee State reporting first-year earnings in the $48,000-$51,500 range.

The gap between national and state outcomes matters for a Tennessee-based program like Lincoln Memorial's. If this program performs more like Tennessee peers than the national median, graduates could face a tighter financial picture in those critical early career years. MIS skills are in demand nationally, but local job markets and employer networks play a substantial role in where graduates land and what they earn initially.

Given the complete absence of program-specific data, you're essentially betting on Lincoln Memorial's ability to match or exceed outcomes at larger state institutions with more established tech employer pipelines. That's not impossible—smaller programs sometimes deliver strong industry connections—but it's a leap of faith when you can't see actual graduate outcomes.