Computer Programming at Ranken Technical College

Ranken Technical College graduates come out of this programming associate's program earning $43,573—about $5,500 above the national median for similar programs and right at Missouri's state median. More importantly, they're carrying just $13,325 in debt, well below the national average of $17,108. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 means graduates owe less than four months of their first-year salary, a manageable burden that most can reasonably handle.

The earnings trajectory looks solid, with graduates seeing 22% salary growth by year four, reaching $53,268. Among Missouri's nine schools offering this program, Ranken sits in the middle of the pack—Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City edges it out slightly, but Ranken substantially outperforms options like Ozarks Technical. The program serves a significant number of Pell-eligible students (42%), suggesting it's accessible to families who need financial aid.

The main caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the data—so these numbers could shift with a larger cohort. Still, the fundamentals are sound: below-average debt, above-average earnings, and meaningful salary growth in the first four years. For students who want to enter tech quickly without accumulating heavy debt, this represents a practical path forward.