Computer and Information Sciences at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College

The earnings here raise immediate red flags. At $28,568 one year after graduation, this certificate ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for computer science certificates—meaning 95% of similar programs produce better outcomes. Even within Kentucky's community college system, where you'd expect more comparable results, this program trails the state median by nearly $8,000. Gateway Community and Technical College, also in the Kentucky system, sees graduates earning $45,428, a 59% premium over Southcentral's results.

The low debt of $7,010 provides some relief, but it doesn't change the fundamental math: certificate holders here earn substantially less than what's typical for tech credentials, even adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living. While a 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, you're still starting from an earnings base that's barely above minimum wage full-time work in many areas. For a computer science credential, which should command better pay even at the certificate level, these returns are disappointing.

The small sample size means individual circumstances could be skewing these numbers, but that uncertainty cuts both ways—it's not clear whether future cohorts would see better or worse outcomes. If your child is considering a tech certificate in Kentucky, the data strongly suggests looking at Gateway, Jefferson, or other programs in the state first. This particular pathway appears to underperform its peers by a meaningful margin.