Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Roxbury Community College

A typical technical credential runs about $12,000 in debt, and that's what peer community college programs suggest for this certificate. The question is whether first-year earnings around $42,000—derived from national medians for similar IT administration programs—make that investment worthwhile. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28, graduates would theoretically owe roughly three months' salary, which falls within reasonable parameters for a short-term credential.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Roxbury Community College serves a population where 60% of students receive Pell grants, and IT administration outcomes can vary dramatically based on local job markets and employer connections. Massachusetts has a robust tech sector, but whether this specific certificate provides the networking and technical depth needed to access $42,000+ positions is impossible to verify from estimated data alone. Comparable programs nationally produce this income level, but regional variation matters enormously in technology fields.

The practical path forward: contact the program directly about recent graduate placement rates and starting employers. A certificate should function as a quick credential boost, ideally completed while working or as a stepping stone to an associate degree. If the program can demonstrate actual job placements in the Boston area's IT sector, the estimated numbers become more meaningful. Without that confirmation, you're making a decision based on what similar programs produce elsewhere, not what Roxbury's specific connections and curriculum deliver.