Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Purdue University Global

Purdue University Global's IT management associate program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground. While graduates earn above the national median ($45,475 vs. $41,752 nationally), they actually trail the Indiana state median of $46,541—landing in just the 40th percentile among the state's seven programs. That $1,000 gap matters when you're carrying debt.

The debt load tells a more concerning story. At nearly $30,000, graduates owe about $8,500 more than the national median and roughly $6,000 more than typical Indiana borrowers in this field. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it means graduates spend two-thirds of their first year's salary working off what amounts to the highest debt burden in the entire national dataset (5th percentile). Given that nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, these families are taking on substantial risk for middle-of-the-road outcomes.

The math is straightforward: if your family qualifies for in-state tuition at a public Indiana institution, those alternatives would likely deliver similar or better earnings with significantly less debt. This program works the numbers, but barely—and only if keeping debt below $25,000 proves impossible through other pathways. The premium you're paying here isn't translating into a premium outcome.