Computer Science at North Hennepin Community College

Minnesota's computer science associate programs typically show strong employment prospects, and North Hennepin appears positioned in that market with estimated first-year earnings around $39,000 climbing to $61,615 by year four. That four-year figure represents a 58% jump and suggests graduates are gaining valuable technical skills that employers reward fairly quickly. The estimated debt of $15,751 sits right at the Minnesota median for these programs, producing a manageable 0.4 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly five months of their first-year salary.

The program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (29%), and the debt burden here is notably lighter than most computer science programs nationally (5th percentile). While the first-year earnings estimate comes from comparable programs across the country rather than North Hennepin's actual outcomes, the four-year earnings are reported data from this school's graduates, providing concrete evidence that completers are advancing in their careers. That progression from estimated $39K to actual $61K matters more than the starting point.

For parents weighing cost versus outcome, this looks like a practical pathway into tech work without the debt load of a four-year degree. The real test will be whether your student can leverage that associate's into employment or transfer credits if they pursue a bachelor's later—but the fundamentals here suggest reasonable value.