Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at St Philip's College

In Texas, networking programs at community colleges cluster tightly around $38,000-$43,000 in first-year earnings, and this program appears to land right in that range. Based on comparable programs at similar institutions in the state, students here are looking at roughly $38,000 in first-year earnings against an estimated $13,000 in debt—a manageable 0.34 ratio that's notably lower than the typical $22,000 debt burden seen across Texas networking programs. That's a meaningful advantage, even if the earnings trail some of the larger community college districts like Austin or Houston by $5,000-$9,000.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates here, since St Philip's program hasn't reported actual outcomes data. What we can say is that even if these peer-based figures hold, graduates would be starting roughly $5,000 below the national median for this credential. For technical fields where certifications and hands-on skills matter enormously, the school's specific industry connections and lab facilities become critical differentiators that data can't capture.

If your child is weighing this option, the relatively light debt load provides breathing room, but confirming what percentage of recent graduates actually secured networking roles—and where—matters more than these estimated averages. San Antonio's tech sector is growing, but starting in the high $30,000s in a field where peers at other Texas schools often break $40,000 should prompt questions about placement outcomes.