Management Information Systems and Services at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg's MIS program delivers modest starting salaries that improve considerably over time, but those initial earnings lag behind most alternatives. At $51,195 in year one, graduates earn about $8,300 less than the national median for this field and fall below the Pennsylvania median as well. Among the state's 25 MIS programs, this ranks right at the 40th percentile—workable, but nothing that would justify choosing Shippensburg over closer or more affordable options.

The encouraging news is the 36% earnings growth trajectory, with graduates reaching nearly $70,000 by year four. That's a meaningful jump that suggests these students develop marketable skills even if employers don't initially value the Shippensburg credential as highly. The debt load of $26,900 is reasonable and fairly typical for Pennsylvania, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. Students can realistically handle these payments on that starting salary.

The real question is opportunity cost. Temple graduates start $8,000 higher with similar debt, while Drexel and Villanova offer substantially better earnings despite higher costs. If your child can access those programs, they're likely better investments. Shippensburg makes sense primarily for students who need the 86% admission rate as a safety option or who have specific reasons to stay local—just recognize they'll be playing catch-up in the job market compared to peers from stronger programs.