Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Mildred Elley School-Albany Campus

A debt load around $10,400 for an IT certificate is manageable when weighed against first-year earnings that peer programs nationally suggest will be in the low $40,000s. The 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning roughly three months of gross income to pay off the full debt—falls well within reasonable territory for a short-term credential. With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, Mildred Elley clearly serves a population for whom minimizing time and cost to enter the workforce matters considerably.

The challenge is that both the earnings and debt figures here are estimates drawn from national medians rather than outcomes specific to this Albany campus. Similar undergraduate IT certificates across the country typically produce $42,271 in first-year earnings, but Albany's local tech market and this particular program's employer connections could shift that number meaningfully in either direction. The estimated debt is actually slightly below the national median of $12,000, which suggests reasonable cost control if the estimate holds.

For parents considering this path, the key question is whether a certificate rather than an associate degree limits long-term advancement in IT roles. The low debt and quick entry point make sense if your student needs immediate employment and plans to build skills on the job, but you'll want to verify actual graduate placement rates and whether local Albany employers value this specific credential over longer programs at nearby community colleges.