Information Science/Studies at Schenectady County Community College

Based on peer programs nationwide, this associate's degree in Information Science appears to land in a comfortable middle ground—estimated earnings of $38,906 against debt around $13,125 yields a manageable 0.34 ratio. That debt-to-earnings picture matters because it translates to roughly four months of gross salary to pay off the degree, which is reasonable for a two-year credential. The national median for these programs sits at exactly the same earnings figure, suggesting Schenectady's program should track with typical outcomes in this field.

The New York comparison is more revealing. Similar programs across the state show a median of $35,124 in earnings and $10,248 in debt—both slightly lower than what Schenectady estimates suggest. However, Hudson Valley Community College graduates in the same field reportedly earn the same $38,906, while Onondaga sits at $31,342. This spread tells you that location and employer connections within New York matter considerably for information science graduates.

For a parent evaluating this program, the key question is whether your child has clear employment prospects in the Capital Region's tech sector. The estimated numbers suggest a workable investment if jobs materialize, but without reported data specific to Schenectady's graduates, you're relying on how well this program replicates what's working elsewhere. Talk directly to the department about where recent graduates actually land jobs—that local placement reality will matter more than these peer-based projections.