Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Massasoit Community College

The estimated $17,500 debt load for this IT management associate's degree appears manageable against projected first-year earnings of roughly $42,000—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that suggests graduates could reasonably handle repayment. However, these figures are derived from national peer programs rather than Massasoit's actual outcomes, which weren't reported due to small sample sizes. What's particularly striking is the gap between these national benchmarks and what's actually happening at other Massachusetts community colleges: Springfield Technical's graduates, for instance, earn just $25,000 in their first year—nearly $17,000 less than the national median this estimate draws from.

That discrepancy matters because IT roles in the Boston area should theoretically command higher salaries than the national average, yet Massachusetts programs are underperforming dramatically. Whether Massasoit's outcomes align with stronger national programs or mirror the weaker state results is unknowable from the available data. The difference between those two scenarios is roughly $16,000 in first-year earnings—enough to make debt repayment either straightforward or genuinely challenging.

Given this uncertainty, parents should request completion and placement data directly from Massasoit before committing. Ask specifically about job titles graduates obtain and whether they're working in IT versus retail or service roles. The degree could be solid preparation for technical support or systems administration positions, but without actual outcomes data, you're essentially betting on which benchmark proves more accurate.