Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Southwestern Illinois College

Southwestern Illinois College's IT administration program shows promise in a competitive field, though the full picture requires some inference. First-year graduates earn around $46,000, placing them well above both the state and national medians for this credential—outperforming nearly three-quarters of comparable programs nationwide. That's a meaningful advantage in a field with nearly 600 competing programs across the country.

The estimated debt burden of $17,500, derived from similar associate's programs at the school, appears manageable against these earnings—resulting in a debt-to-income ratio of 0.38. That's substantially better than the national median debt of $21,480 for this degree. Comparable programs in Illinois typically carry $16,740 in debt, so while we can't confirm exact figures for this program's graduates, the estimates align with state norms. The 17% earnings growth to $54,000 by year four suggests steady career progression, though IT fields often see more dramatic jumps with the right certifications or specializations.

The caveat: because graduate cohorts were too small to publish actual outcomes, we're working from educated guesses about the debt picture. Still, the earnings data is real and compelling. For families weighing a two-year IT credential in Illinois, this program's track record of placing graduates above peer institutions—including larger competitors—makes a strong case, particularly at what appears to be a reasonable cost.