Computer and Information Sciences at North Shore Community College

Is an associate's degree in computer science worth $9,300 in debt when you're starting at $35,700? Based on comparable programs in Massachusetts, the answer looks cautiously favorable. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 means you'd owe roughly three months' salary—a manageable burden that many graduates could tackle within a few years, especially in an IT field where early certifications and experience often matter more than pedigree.

The challenge is that these figures come from peer programs since North Shore's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to report. Similar Massachusetts programs show considerable variation, with some producing first-year earnings nearly $5,000 higher. What we can't know from estimates alone is whether North Shore's curriculum, employer connections, and local job market access will put graduates closer to the higher or lower end of that range. The school serves a significant population of Pell recipients, suggesting it's accessible to working-class students, but that doesn't tell us much about placement outcomes.

The practical takeaway: the estimated debt load is light enough that even if earnings land at the lower end of the state range, you're not looking at crushing financial burden. But with a third of the state's programs in this field, you should compare specific course offerings and talk to actual North Shore graduates about their job search experience before committing.