Computer and Information Sciences at Montgomery Community College

A certificate in computer sciences typically costs around $12,625 in North Carolina community colleges, and comparable programs in the state suggest first-year earnings near $36,200. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 is manageable—roughly one-third of a year's salary—which means graduates could reasonably pay this down in a few years if they commit extra income to it.

The challenge is that Montgomery Community College sits in a rural part of the state, far from North Carolina's tech corridors. While peer programs at Wake Tech ($55,264) and Durham Tech ($46,966) produce significantly higher earnings, those schools benefit from proximity to the Research Triangle's robust tech economy. Similar programs at Davidson-Davie and Rowan-Cabarrus—closer to Montgomery's regional profile—show earnings in the same $34,000-$36,000 range, suggesting the estimate here reflects real regional limitations rather than program weakness.

For a short-term credential, the investment pencils out mathematically, but job prospects matter more than debt math. Your child should investigate whether Troy and surrounding areas have actual IT employer demand, or whether they'd need to relocate to Charlotte or Raleigh to use this credential effectively. A certificate only makes sense if there's a clear path from completion to employment in a geography they're willing to work in.