Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Scottsdale Community College

This Associate's degree in IT administration comes with an estimated $17,500 in debt—below both the national median for similar programs ($21,480) and meaningfully lower than what many community college graduates carry. Combined with projected first-year earnings around $41,750 based on national peer programs, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, which falls within a manageable range for technical credentials.

The caveat is that without actual graduate outcomes from Scottsdale Community College, you're making decisions based on how comparable IT administration programs perform nationally. Arizona has 20 schools offering this degree, but none with publicly reported data, making it harder to gauge whether local employers value these credentials differently. The national benchmark suggests steady if unspectacular early earnings—IT administration roles tend to favor stability over explosive growth, and an Associate's often serves as a stepping stone rather than a terminal degree.

For parents weighing this path, the relatively light debt load is the program's strongest selling point. If your student plans to work while continuing education or can leverage Scottsdale's location in a tech-friendly metro area, the economics could work. But confirm what local employers actually hire for—some IT roles increasingly expect bachelor's degrees or specific certifications that might render this credential insufficient on its own.