Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Strayer University-North Carolina

Strayer's IT management program produces surprisingly strong outcomes despite serving a predominantly low-income student population. With first-year earnings of $61,810, graduates earn 48% more than the national median for this program and 28% more than the North Carolina median. That puts this program in the 80th percentile among North Carolina IT programs—a meaningful premium for students who might otherwise struggle to access high-paying tech careers.

The debt load of $28,174 is higher than the national median but roughly in line with other North Carolina programs. More importantly, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 means graduates owe less than half their first-year salary, which is manageable by most standards. The 7% earnings decline between years one and four is worth noting—whether this reflects career path changes or market dynamics isn't clear from the data—but even at the four-year mark, earnings of $57,214 remain well above what most associate-level IT programs deliver.

For families concerned about ROI, this program appears to justify its cost. Strayer graduates are landing jobs that pay considerably better than the typical associate's degree in this field, and the debt burden remains reasonable relative to those earnings. That's a solid foundation for financial stability, particularly for the 80% of students here who qualify for Pell grants.