Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at North Idaho College

First-year earnings of $41,752—drawn from what similar IT administration programs produce nationally—land above Idaho's typical $35,040 for this credential, though graduates at North Idaho College would carry an estimated $17,500 in debt. That debt load sits comfortably below the national median of $21,480 for associate's programs at community colleges, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 that suggests manageable repayment. For context, College of Western Idaho's IT program shows actual first-year earnings of $35,040, which makes the national benchmark feel optimistic for Idaho's job market.

The reality is we're working with limited visibility here—the small graduate cohort means no specific outcomes data exists for this program. What peer programs across the country suggest is a modest but realistic starting salary that doubles minimum wage and opens doors to tech support, network administration, or help desk roles. Whether that trajectory holds in Coeur d'Alene's smaller market versus Boise or other tech hubs remains uncertain.

The takeaway: this looks like a relatively low-risk credential if your child wants technical skills without bachelor's-level debt, but tempering expectations around that $41,752 figure makes sense given Idaho's typically lower IT salaries. The debt burden appears reasonable regardless, which matters when outcomes are harder to predict.