Computer and Information Sciences at Northwood Technical College

At $50,239 in first-year earnings against just $10,250 in debt, Northwood Technical College's computer sciences certificate punches well above its weight nationally—beating the median program by nearly $12,000 while keeping debt low. That 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe about 10 weeks' worth of salary, a manageable burden that most students can pay down quickly. Among Wisconsin's handful of similar programs, this sits right at the state median, but nationally it ranks in the 84th percentile, suggesting the program combines strong technical training with Wisconsin's favorable job market for IT workers.

The one concern here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few data points. A small cohort where several graduates landed particularly good jobs could inflate the average, while a couple of students who struggled to find work immediately wouldn't show up in this snapshot. That said, the fundamentals look solid: technical colleges typically maintain strong employer relationships, and the debt load is modest enough that even if earnings come in below this median, graduates aren't facing crushing payments.

For a short-term credential that gets someone into the workforce quickly, this appears to be a sound choice, particularly for students who want to avoid four-year college costs. Just recognize you're looking at a limited data sample rather than the robust track record of a larger program.