Information Science/Studies at Strayer University-North Carolina

Strayer's Information Science program charges more than twice the typical debt load for this field—$53,250 versus a national median of $25,750—while delivering earnings that lag behind other North Carolina schools. First-year graduates earn $71,167, which sounds solid until you realize that's below the state median of $73,500 and ranks only in the 40th percentile among NC programs. UNC Chapel Hill graduates earn $75,834 with significantly less debt, and that gap matters when you're paying down an extra $20,000 in loans.

The math tells the story: with 80% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves families who can least afford to carry outsized debt burdens. While the 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic and earnings do grow to nearly $79,000 by year four, you're still looking at debt levels that rank in the bottom 5% nationally for this field. That means 95% of similar programs nationwide burden students with less debt.

For families considering this program, the question is straightforward: are the convenience factors (location, scheduling, online options) worth paying a premium that will take years longer to repay? If your student can access UNC Chapel Hill or other state programs, those represent better financial value. If Strayer's flexibility is genuinely necessary for degree completion, understand you're trading higher debt for accessibility—a valid choice, but one to make with open eyes about the long-term cost.