Information Science/Studies at Savannah State University

Savannah State's Information Science program operates in the middle tier of Georgia options but trails the national field significantly. At $46,840 in first-year earnings, graduates here earn about $12,000 less than the median Georgia graduate in this field and nearly $12,000 below the national median. While landing at the 40th percentile statewide sounds middling, the gap between this program and Georgia's stronger options—like Kennesaw State at $64,000 or even nearby Georgia Southern at $52,000—represents real money that compounds over a career.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $27,000, it sits right at the state median and only slightly above the national benchmark. A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates carry just over half their first-year salary in loans, which is manageable territory. Given that two-thirds of students here receive Pell grants, many come from families where this level of borrowing may still feel substantial, but it's not crushing compared to similar programs elsewhere.

The critical caveat: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. For parents willing to bet on a small program at a regional university, this isn't financially reckless—the debt won't bury anyone. But if your child has admission to Kennesaw State or Georgia Southern, those programs deliver better immediate returns without materially different debt loads.