Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Northwest State Community College

Similar programs across Ohio suggest this IT management degree delivers steady rather than spectacular returns. With estimated first-year earnings around $41,800—right at the state median—and debt held to $17,500, the 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio stays comfortably manageable. By year four, the reported earnings of $43,072 show modest but real progression, though nothing approaching the trajectory you'd see in more specialized tech fields.

What makes this estimate particularly uncertain is the limited graduate sample size that triggered data suppression in the first place. When peer programs in Ohio range from $31,500 to $42,400 in first-year earnings, that $11,000 spread matters tremendously for calculating return on investment. The lower debt figure compared to Ohio's $23,000 median suggests Northwest State keeps costs reasonable, but without knowing where this specific program falls within that earnings range, you're planning around a moving target.

The practical question is whether an associate's degree in IT administration positions graduates for the kind of technical roles that command better wages, or channels them toward help desk and support positions that top out quickly. For a family willing to accept some uncertainty in exchange for lower debt, the estimated numbers suggest workable outcomes—but you'd want direct contact with the school's career services to understand actual employer relationships and graduate placement before committing.