Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology's Computer Systems Networking program earns just $49,374 in the first year—nearly $11,000 below the national median for this degree. While this ranks in the 60th percentile among Pennsylvania programs, that comparison is largely meaningless since this appears to be the only school in the state offering this specific bachelor's degree. Against the 86 programs nationwide, it lands in just the 13th percentile for earnings, suggesting graduates are significantly underperforming their peers at other institutions.

The $27,000 in debt is exactly average nationally, but paired with below-market earnings, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55—manageable but not ideal when you're already starting behind on salary. For context, graduates at the top-performing programs in this field earn roughly $61,800, meaning this program's outcomes fall about $12,400 short annually. Over a career, that gap compounds substantially.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty, but that cuts both ways—it could mean these numbers aren't representative, or it could signal limited job placement success. For a parent weighing this investment, the clear concern is paying typical debt for substantially below-average earnings in a technical field where compensation usually rewards specialized skills. Unless there are compelling regional employment connections or your child has specific reasons to attend Penn College of Technology, exploring programs with stronger earnings outcomes would be prudent.