Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Parkland College

Based on comparable IT programs in Illinois, this associate's degree appears to track with state norms—students typically earn around $42,000 in their first year and carry roughly $17,500 in debt. That 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment: you're looking at debt equal to about five months of gross income, which is reasonable for a two-year technical credential.

The challenge here is context. Without actual graduate outcomes from Parkland specifically, it's hard to know whether this program prepares students as effectively as peers like Southwestern Illinois College (whose grads earn $46,000) or lands closer to Morrison Institute's $39,000. That $7,000 spread matters significantly when you're servicing student loans on an entry-level salary. The estimates we're working with reflect the middle of Illinois's IT associate's market, but individual program quality—curriculum currency, employer connections, hands-on training—varies widely.

For parents considering this investment, the fundamentals look solid enough: technical associate's degrees in IT generally lead to employable skills, and the estimated debt load isn't alarming. But push the school for specifics. What percentage of students complete the program? Where do graduates actually get hired? What's the job placement rate? The estimated numbers suggest this could work financially, but you'll want concrete evidence that Parkland's specific program delivers on that promise before committing.