Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Seattle Central College

A bachelor's in IT administration from a community college is an unusual pathway—most students pursuing this four-year credential attend traditional universities—and the estimated numbers here suggest why that matters. Similar programs nationwide produce first-year earnings around $58,000, which falls well below Washington's typical $66,000 for this degree and trails programs at Western Washington or even Columbia Basin College.

The estimated debt of $25,000 isn't unreasonable for a bachelor's degree, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. But when you're borrowing that amount for earnings that lag state peers by $8,000 annually, you're paying similar tuition for diminished market positioning. Washington employers hiring IT administrators typically expect that $66,000 benchmark—the gap suggests this particular pathway may lack the reputation or connections that help graduates command competitive offers.

The core question is whether Seattle Central's community college environment offers advantages—perhaps lower overall costs through transfer credits or proximity to Seattle's tech scene—that offset the earnings gap. Without actual graduate outcomes from this specific program, you're betting that its reality beats the estimates. If your student has cheaper alternatives that match Washington's typical outcomes, those deserve serious consideration.