Computer Programming at Santa Fe College

With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers need careful interpretation, but Santa Fe College's computer programming associate's shows reasonable alignment with state and national benchmarks. First-year earnings of $39,098 match Florida's median exactly and land slightly above the national average, placing graduates at the 60th percentile statewide. The $15,100 in typical debt sits meaningfully below both Florida's median ($18,262) and the national figure ($17,108), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39—manageable by community college standards.

The real question is whether an associate's degree provides enough technical depth for today's programming jobs, especially when nearby Hillsborough Community College's similar program shows $42,710 in first-year earnings. Santa Fe's graduates aren't struggling, but they're not commanding premium salaries either. For students planning to transfer to a four-year program, this represents solid preparation at a reasonable cost. For those entering the workforce immediately, the earnings suggest entry-level positions rather than developer roles.

The small sample size matters here—a handful of graduates landing in help desk or tech support roles versus software development could swing these numbers considerably. If your child is committed to programming as a career, plan for this as a stepping stone, not the endpoint. The low debt load at least makes that next step financially feasible.