Data Processing at Skagit Valley College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 puts this program in relatively safe territory—based on national data from similar associate programs, graduates typically earn around $38,500 in their first year while carrying roughly $15,800 in debt. That's manageable by most standards, though it's worth noting these figures come from peer institutions since Skagit Valley's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish specific outcomes.

The challenge here is less about the numbers themselves and more about what they reveal: data processing associate programs have seen declining enrollment nationally, and Washington's seven offerings suggest limited demand or shifting market preferences. The $38,500 first-year earnings estimate sits right at the national median for this credential, which means you're looking at middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a field where technology changes rapidly. For context, some students might find better-defined pathways in related fields like IT support or cybersecurity, where employer demand and credential recognition are clearer.

If your child has a specific employer or job role in mind that values this credential, the debt burden isn't prohibitive. But given the limited data and the field's evolution toward more specialized tech roles, you'll want concrete answers about what doors this degree actually opens in the Puget Sound region before committing.