Management Information Systems and Services at Northeastern State University

This MIS program positions itself as the value option in Oklahoma's tech education landscape, with estimated debt around $19,375 leading to first-year earnings of $51,298. While that initial salary lags behind what graduates from Tulsa or OU-Norman typically command, the debt load—based on comparable programs at Northeastern State—is roughly 25% lower than the state median. For families watching every dollar, this affordability angle matters.

The earnings trajectory tells a more optimistic story than the starting number suggests. Four years out, similar programs produce graduates earning around $72,575, representing 42% growth. That's meaningful acceleration, though it's worth noting the program still trails state peers: middle-of-the-pack within Oklahoma and in the bottom quarter nationally. The school's 42% Pell grant population suggests many students here are choosing pragmatic paths into tech careers rather than chasing top-tier outcomes.

The calculation for parents comes down to risk tolerance. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 is manageable—your child could reasonably pay off loans while building career momentum. But you're banking on that mid-career growth materializing, and without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're making that bet based on how similar Oklahoma MIS programs perform. If your child can access scholarships to push that debt even lower, the value proposition strengthens considerably.