Information Science/Studies at Strayer University-Virginia

Strayer's Information Science program charges a steep premium—graduates carry more than double the national median debt for this field. The question is whether $53,250 in loans is justified by the earnings outcomes.

The earnings tell a complicated story. At $71,167 in year one, graduates match the 75th percentile nationally and outpace the Virginia median by over $12,000. However, within Virginia's competitive landscape, this places them solidly middle-of-the-pack—behind James Madison and VCU, but well ahead of programs like Radford. The 60th percentile state ranking suggests respectable but not exceptional performance for Virginia. Growth to $78,793 by year four shows steady progression, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75—manageable but requiring discipline, especially for the 55% of students receiving Pell grants who may have additional financial constraints.

The core tension here is paying private school prices for public school outcomes. You're getting solid mid-career positioning in Virginia's tech corridor, but competitors like VCU deliver comparable results with significantly less debt burden. This could work for students who need Strayer's flexible scheduling or online options, but families should run the numbers carefully against in-state alternatives that offer similar career trajectories without the debt penalty.