Location: Lincoln, NE•In-State Tuition: $3,540•Out-of-State Tuition: $4,260
Median Earnings (1yr)
$55,738
95th percentile
60th percentile in Nebraska
Median Debt
$19,140
28% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.34 ManageableSample: 76 graduates

Analysis

Southeast Community College Area's computer science associate's program commands roughly $6,000 more in debt than other Nebraska programs, but that premium buys something tangible: first-year earnings of $55,738 that crush both the state median ($48,719) and dwarf the national median ($35,760) by more than 50%. While this ranks in the 60th percentile among Nebraska programs—meaning Metropolitan Community College matches these outcomes at lower cost—it still places in the 95th percentile nationally, indicating this program competes well beyond typical community college computer science outcomes.

The debt picture deserves attention. At $19,140, graduates carry about $6,000 more than the Nebraska median, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means this is paid off in roughly four months of gross income. Earnings growth to nearly $60,000 by year four suggests graduates aren't just landing entry-level help desk jobs but are building genuine IT careers. For context, many associate's programs see graduates plateau or decline in earnings after the initial bump.

**The bottom line:** This program delivers strong financial outcomes that justify its higher price tag, especially for families prioritizing immediate earning power over minimizing debt. If Metropolitan Community College is accessible and offers similar instruction, compare carefully—but Southeast's track record of placing graduates into well-paying tech roles makes this a defensible choice for Nebraska families.

Where Southeast Community College Area Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences associates's programs nationally

Southeast Community College AreaOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Southeast Community College Area graduates compare to all programs nationally

Southeast Community College Area earns $56k — 95th percentile among computer and information sciences associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Southeast Community College Area$55,738$59,873+7%
Salt Lake Community College$55,961$75,016+34%
Northern Virginia Community College$39,679$65,485+65%
Southern New Hampshire University$50,111$65,335+30%
Brookdale Community College$31,827$60,992+92%

Compare to Similar Programs in Nebraska

Computer and Information Sciences associates's programs at peer institutions in Nebraska (8 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Southeast Community College AreaLincoln$3,540$55,738$59,873$19,1400.34
Metropolitan Community College AreaOmaha$3,285$48,719—$14,3400.29
Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk$3,840$37,509—$12,0000.32
National Median—$35,760—$14,9320.42

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Southeast Community College Area, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 76 graduates with reported earnings and 75 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.