Computer and Information Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City Community College's Computer Science associate's degree launches graduates at nearly $50,000—far above the $35,760 national median and matching the strongest programs in Oklahoma. That 95th percentile national ranking is impressive, though the 60th percentile state ranking reveals that Oklahoma's tech associate degrees generally perform well. The debt load of $15,461 is reasonable, creating a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio that most families would find manageable.

The concern here is stagnation: earnings barely budge between year one and year four, staying essentially flat around $49,500. This suggests graduates may hit a ceiling quickly with an associate's degree in this field. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, and individual outcomes will vary based on the specific tech roles graduates pursue and whether they continue their education.

For a student planning to enter the workforce immediately and earn while potentially pursuing a bachelor's degree part-time, this program offers solid starting pay with minimal debt. But if your child aims for higher-earning tech positions, view this as a launching pad rather than a destination—the earnings plateau suggests a four-year degree may be necessary for substantial advancement.