Computer and Information Sciences at Southeastern College-Columbia

A projected debt load of $18,391 against first-year earnings around $35,700 suggests this program carries manageable risk for students pursuing an IT career. Based on comparable associate degree programs nationwide, graduates typically earn enough to handle their debt burden—the 0.51 ratio means roughly half a year's salary devoted to repayment, which falls within reasonable bounds for a two-year degree.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With three-quarters of students receiving Pell grants, Southeastern serves a predominantly lower-income population, yet we're relying entirely on national patterns rather than actual graduate outcomes. Similar programs across the country produce the median earnings figure we're using, but whether Southeastern's specific curriculum, local employer connections, and student support translate to similar results remains unknown. The debt estimate comes from other programs at this institution type, not from IT graduates specifically.

For families weighing this investment, the fundamentals look solid on paper—technology credentials generally open doors, and the debt-to-earnings math works. But given the complete absence of reported data, you're betting on national trends holding true at a specific school serving a vulnerable student population. Before committing, nail down exactly where recent graduates landed jobs and what they're actually earning, because these estimates can't tell you whether this particular program delivers on tech education's promise.