Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Manchester Community College

For a two-year tech degree, the estimated debt load of $17,500 sits comfortably below what peer programs nationally typically saddle students with ($21,480 median). That's meaningful because keeping debt down matters more than chasing every extra dollar of income early on, especially in a field where you can build skills and credentials over time.

Based on national data from similar IT administration programs, first-year earnings around $41,750 aren't spectacular but they're solid for an associate's degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 means graduates would need less than half their first year's salary to cover what they borrowed—workable by most measures. IT administration roles also tend to offer clear advancement paths as you gain experience and potentially add certifications, so that initial number tells only part of the story.

The caveat: these figures come from comparable programs nationally since Manchester Community College's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report specific outcomes. That means you're betting on your child's experience mirroring those national patterns rather than having hard evidence from this particular program. The fundamentals look reasonable—modest debt for a field with growth potential—but understand you're making that decision with less certainty than you'd have with a larger, more established program that produces reportable data.