Information Science/Studies at South University-Tampa

South University-Tampa's Information Science program carries an unusually heavy debt load—over $52,000, which is double the national median for this field. While first-year earnings of $44,682 aren't catastrophic, they land this program in just the 10th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Florida's 11 schools offering Information Science. You're looking at a debt burden that exceeds first-year earnings, a warning sign in any program evaluation.

The bright spot is strong earnings growth: graduates see a 36% jump to nearly $61,000 by year four. That trajectory suggests the degree does develop marketable skills, even if the starting point is modest. However, even with that growth, four-year earnings still trail what graduates from Strayer University-Florida and several other in-state programs earn from day one. The high Pell grant percentage (48%) indicates this school serves students who often can't afford to carry excessive debt.

The core issue is simple math: paying twice the typical debt for this degree while earning substantially less than peers at other Florida schools creates a challenging financial situation. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend South University-Tampa specifically—like significant transfer credits or location constraints—exploring the other Florida programs that deliver stronger starting salaries with comparable or lower debt makes financial sense.