Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Miller-Motte College-Wilmington

Miller-Motte's IT management program lands graduates well below what they could earn elsewhere in North Carolina. With first-year earnings of $34,521, graduates here make about $14,000 less than the typical North Carolina IT associate's degree holder ($48,166). That 25th percentile state ranking means three-quarters of comparable NC programs deliver better earnings outcomes. The national picture is similarly underwhelming—this program sits in the bottom quarter there too.

The debt load of $25,849 isn't catastrophic at 0.75 times first-year earnings, and the 23% earnings growth to $42,302 by year four shows some career progression. But even with that growth, graduates remain roughly $6,000 behind the state median four years out. Given that 65% of students here receive Pell grants, these lower-income students are taking on substantial debt for outcomes that lag behind more affordable community college options across North Carolina.

For parents seeking an IT credential for their child, this program represents a weak value proposition in a state with stronger alternatives. The combination of below-average earnings and typical private-school debt creates an unnecessarily steep hill to climb financially. North Carolina's community colleges offer similar associate's degrees with better placement outcomes and lower price tags—that's the more sensible path for most families.