Information Science/Studies at South University-Virginia Beach

South University-Virginia Beach's Information Science program charges twice the typical debt load for this field while delivering earnings that lag behind most Virginia competitors. At $52,173 in median debt—more than the national median by over $26,000—graduates start at $44,682, placing them in the bottom 10% nationally and bottom quarter in Virginia. Compare that to James Madison's graduates earning $80,173 or VCU's $62,116, both with more manageable debt burdens.

The 36% earnings jump to $60,708 by year four shows some recovery, but even that improved salary barely exceeds what JMU grads earn immediately after graduation. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.17 means graduates owe more than their first year's salary—a particularly difficult starting point for IT professionals who typically command better compensation. With half the student body receiving Pell grants, many families here are borrowing heavily for outcomes that the market doesn't appear to reward.

For $52,000 in debt, you'd expect top-quartile results in Virginia, not bottom-quartile performance. Unless this program offers unique circumstances—like a guaranteed placement or specialized training unavailable elsewhere—families should seriously explore the state's better-performing information science programs before committing to this investment.