Computer and Information Sciences at Pellissippi State Community College

Pellissippi State delivers unusually strong outcomes for a Tennessee community college tech program. At $44,224 one year out, graduates earn 24% more than the typical associate-level computer science graduate nationally and 24% more than Tennessee's state median. That $47,845 four-year mark puts this program ahead of all but Nashville State among Tennessee community colleges, while the $10,000 median debt sits well below both state and national averages.

The value proposition here is straightforward: your child would graduate with half the typical debt load while earning substantially more than peers from most competing programs. The 60th percentile ranking within Tennessee might seem middling, but context matters—this program trails only Nashville State and Chattanooga State among major Tennessee community colleges, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 means graduates typically owe just three months' salary. For families concerned about student loan burden, that's about as favorable as community college tech programs get.

The 8% earnings growth suggests graduates find stable footing in Knoxville's tech sector rather than hitting immediate ceiling wages. If your child plans to stay in Tennessee and wants practical IT credentials without accumulating debt, Pellissippi State represents one of the better-value options in the state system.