Computer and Information Sciences at Shelton State Community College

Computer and information sciences programs in Alabama vary considerably, but peer schools suggest a baseline: John C Calhoun State Community College reports first-year earnings of $36,258 for similar graduates. Shelton State's program appears to track close to these benchmarks, with estimated outcomes of around $35,761 in first-year earnings against roughly $12,500 in debt. That 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—considerably better than many associate programs where debt can equal or exceed a full year's salary.

The challenge with Shelton State's program is that we're working entirely from estimates based on comparable programs nationwide, since the school's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. This could mean the program is new, small, or has variable completion rates. For a field like IT where hands-on experience and local employer connections matter enormously, program size and established relationships can be significant advantages. The 40% Pell grant enrollment suggests Shelton State serves students who need education to be affordable, which this debt level supports.

If your child is already in the Tuscaloosa area and needs flexible scheduling or has financial constraints, Shelton State could work—but investigate whether the program has active tech employer partnerships and whether graduates actually land IT jobs locally. Given the uncertainty in the data, comparing job placement specifics between Shelton State and slightly larger Alabama community colleges offering this degree would be time well spent.