Computer and Information Sciences at Northwood Technical College

A debt load around $12,500 for an associate's degree in tech is manageable territory, particularly when similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings in the mid-$30,000s. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 means graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary—well within reasonable bounds for an associate credential. What's more encouraging is the jump to $43,196 by year four, indicating this program builds toward roles with actual growth potential rather than dead-end positions.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates because Northwood's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. Similar computer science associate programs nationally cluster around these same earnings figures, but individual school quality varies significantly in tech fields where hands-on training and industry connections matter enormously. Wisconsin has only two schools offering this associate program, which could mean either strong regional employer relationships or limited local job opportunities—impossible to know from the data alone.

Given the relatively low debt and national earnings benchmarks that align with the estimates, this program appears financially sound if your child is certain about pursuing IT work in Wisconsin's northern region. The real due diligence should focus on job placement rates, what specific technical skills the curriculum covers, and whether local employers actually hire from this program—factors the federal data simply can't tell you.