Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services at South Florida Institute of Technology

The numbers here tell a troubling story: graduates earn just $22,564 in their first year—less than two-thirds of the national median for similar IT certificates—and see earnings decline to $21,678 by year four. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile among Florida IT certificate programs, that's only because there are just two such programs in the state, making the comparison essentially meaningless. Nationally, this program sits in the bottom 5% for earnings while carrying debt in the 95th percentile—a combination that should concern any parent.

The debt itself isn't catastrophic at $9,493, representing about five months of first-year earnings. But the real issue is what graduates are getting for that investment: starting salaries barely above minimum wage that actually decrease over time. With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, this program primarily serves students who can least afford underwhelming outcomes. The IT field typically offers strong earning potential even for certificate holders—the national median is $35,529—but this particular program isn't delivering those results.

For parents considering this investment, the question is stark: why pay nearly $10,000 for training that leads to $22,000 jobs that don't grow? Unless there are specific placement partnerships or local employer connections not reflected in this data, there are likely better pathways into tech careers, including community college programs or self-study combined with industry certifications that cost far less.