Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Roxbury Community College

The estimated $17,500 debt load here sits between the $7,930 state median and the $21,480 national median for associate's programs in IT management—a moderate borrowing level that peer programs suggest should be manageable given typical starting salaries. What's harder to assess is the earnings picture. The $41,752 estimate comes from national data, but the one comparable Massachusetts program with reported outcomes shows graduates earning just $25,478. That's a $16,000 gap that matters enormously when you're calculating whether the monthly loan payment fits into your child's budget.

This disconnect reflects a real tension in Massachusetts tech education: community college IT programs may struggle to connect students with the higher-paying entry-level positions that exist in Boston's tech sector, even when those jobs theoretically require only an associate's degree. The 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable if your child lands work near the national benchmark, but it becomes much tighter at state-typical wages. Much depends on factors these estimates can't capture—whether Roxbury's program has strong employer connections, whether graduates can access Boston-area opportunities, and how well the curriculum aligns with what local employers actually need.

Given that 60% of students here receive Pell grants, many families are choosing this program specifically for its affordability. If your child can graduate near that state median debt level rather than the estimated figure, even moderate IT earnings would make the math work.