Computer and Information Sciences at Mountwest Community and Technical College

Something unusual happens between year one and year four for this program: earnings appear to drop from an estimated $35,761 to $28,923. That backward slide is uncommon for tech credentials and warrants caution. While the first-year estimate—drawn from national peer programs—suggests graduates start near the typical associate's degree tech salary, the actual reported four-year figure tells a different story. This could reflect graduates shifting to part-time work, leaving the field, or West Virginia's tech labor market offering limited advancement for associate-level IT workers.

The debt picture looks manageable at an estimated $12,500, which is actually below the national median for similar programs. With a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio based on that first-year estimate, repayment should be feasible if graduates maintain full-time employment in their field. However, if the four-year earnings figure reflects the more typical trajectory here, that ratio becomes less favorable.

The concerning piece is that declining earnings pattern combined with all the estimation uncertainty. Without reported data from this specific program or comparable West Virginia schools, you're making decisions with limited visibility into how Mountwest's particular curriculum and regional employer connections translate to outcomes. If your child pursues this path, have a backup plan and pay close attention to internship and job placement support, since the four-year data suggests staying employed in tech roles may be the challenge here.