Analysis
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 tells a promising story for this program, even if the exact numbers for Nashua Community College aren't available. Based on national patterns for associate's degree programs in computer science, graduates typically start around $39,000 with roughly $12,500 in debt—meaning the loan burden would be manageable on a first-year salary. That's the kind of ratio where monthly payments shouldn't dominate your household budget while your child builds experience in the field.
The challenge is knowing whether Nashua Community College specifically delivers those outcomes. New Hampshire has only three schools offering this associate's degree, and none report enough graduate data to compare directly. Computer science associate's programs nationwide show significant variation in outcomes, with top programs producing first-year earnings nearly $10,000 higher than the median. Without visibility into where this program lands in that range, you're essentially betting that local employer connections and curriculum quality match the national average. Given that 25% of students here receive Pell grants, the school serves a mix of economic backgrounds, but that doesn't tell you much about job placement rates or what kinds of tech roles graduates actually secure in the region.
The math works if the program delivers on the estimated outcomes—but verify graduation rates and talk to recent graduates before committing.
Where Nashua Community College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all computer science associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Computer Science associates's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $7,140 | $39,118* | — | $12,458* | — | |
| $6,391 | $79,044* | $83,812 | $15,254* | 0.19 | |
| $5,703 | $48,889* | $81,847 | $13,000* | 0.27 | |
| $8,280 | $47,904* | — | $22,519* | 0.47 | |
| $5,520 | $30,332* | — | $9,000* | 0.30 | |
| $5,218 | $24,888* | $46,054 | $8,750* | 0.35 | |
| National Median | — | $39,118* | — | $12,458* | 0.32 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with computer science graduates
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Software Developers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Information Security Analysts
Database Architects
Data Warehousing Specialists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
Clinical Data Managers
Computer Programmers
Web Developers
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Nashua Community College, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 6 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.