Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Quinsigamond Community College

A networking certificate that leaves you with $17,500 in debt while earning around $37,000 deserves scrutiny, even though the specific earnings figure comes from national peer programs rather than Quinsigamond's own graduates. That debt load sits at the 5th percentile nationally for this credential—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide burden students with more—which initially sounds encouraging. But context matters: you're borrowing nearly half your first-year salary for a one-year certificate.

The real concern is what comparable programs typically produce in earnings. Based on national data, networking certificates tend to yield modest starting salaries in the mid-to-high $30,000s, which translates to roughly $16-17 per hour for full-time work. That's marginally better than many service jobs and doesn't leave much cushion for debt repayment. Massachusetts compounds this challenge with a cost of living that makes $37,000 feel particularly tight, especially in the Worcester area where housing and transportation costs cut deep into take-home pay.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your student has specific employer connections or IT experience that could push earnings higher than these peer-program averages. Without that edge, you're betting that Quinsigamond's specific outcomes beat the national pattern—a bet made harder by the fact that we can't verify what their graduates actually earn. If networking is the goal, exploring two-year IT degrees with clearer earnings data might offer better return on the additional time invested.