Computer Programming at South Florida State College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 puts this program in manageable territory—based on comparable associate's programs in Florida, graduates might expect to owe about $16,700 while earning roughly $39,000 in their first year. That means debt payments should consume less than 5% of gross income under standard repayment, a workable burden for most graduates. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters here, and these estimates suggest the program isn't overpricing its credential relative to what similar Florida schools charge.

The estimated first-year earnings align almost exactly with Florida's median for computer programming associate's degrees, which itself tracks closely with the national benchmark of $38,000. Top-performing community colleges in the state like Hillsborough report outcomes around $43,000, suggesting there's room for variation, but the estimated baseline here represents solid middle-of-the-pack positioning. For students seeking technical skills without a four-year commitment, these numbers point toward reasonably quick entry into the workforce.

The caveat: both debt and earnings figures are derived from peer institutions because South Florida State's graduate cohort was too small to report publicly. That means your child would be betting on replicating outcomes from similar programs rather than relying on this school's proven track record. If choosing this program, focus heavily on internship access and local employer relationships—those practical connections matter more when benchmark data is all you have to go on.