Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Springfield Technical Community College

Springfield Technical Community College's IT management associate's program shows a puzzling split: graduates earn just $25,478 initially—putting this in the 5th percentile nationally—yet the program ranks 60th percentile within Massachusetts. That gap reveals more about the state than the program: Massachusetts has surprisingly weak outcomes for associate-level IT programs overall, with the state median matching Springfield Tech's exactly. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, so treat them as directional rather than definitive.

The positive story here is debt and growth trajectory. At $7,930 in borrowing, students take on roughly one-third of the national median debt for this program, and earnings jump 49% by year four to nearly $38,000. That's meaningful growth from a low base, though it still lags far behind the $41,752 national median. The low debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 means this remains manageable even with modest starting pay.

For families weighing this option: the low debt makes this a relatively safe bet if your student needs an affordable entry point into IT work and can tolerate starting earnings below $30,000. The nearly 50% earnings growth suggests career progression is happening. But if stronger initial outcomes matter—and they're financially feasible—looking at bachelor's programs or out-of-state associate options could yield substantially higher starting salaries. The 47% Pell grant rate indicates this serves students who may have fewer alternatives, which matters when evaluating its role.