Computer Programming at New England Institute of Technology

New England Institute of Technology's computer programming graduates earn $72,595 in their first year—44% above the national median for this degree and matching Rhode Island's state average. More importantly, earnings climb to $85,769 by year four, showing steady career progression rather than the stagnation common in many tech programs. At the 75th percentile nationally, these outcomes place NEIT among the top quarter of computer programming bachelor's programs in the country.

The trade-off is debt: $38,133 represents the 95th percentile nationally for this program, meaning nearly all comparable schools send graduates out with less debt. However, the 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates owe just over half their first-year salary, which they can reasonably pay down within a few years given the strong starting wages and clear upward trajectory. The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests employers value what NEIT grads bring to the job.

For parents, this comes down to whether the premium cost justifies the premium outcomes. You're paying more than at most computer programming programs, but your child is likely to out-earn graduates from 75% of them. Given Rhode Island's limited options for this specific degree (only two schools offer it), and NEIT's track record of placing graduates into well-paying positions that grow over time, the math works—especially compared to cheaper programs where graduates struggle to break $50,000.