Computer and Information Sciences at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center

Summit Academy's computer science certificate program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but there's an interesting Minnesota-specific angle: at $39,833, graduates earn at the 60th percentile among Minnesota's handful of certificate programs in this field. With debt under $9,500, students complete the program owing about three months' salary—a manageable burden compared to the typical certificate in this field.

The bigger picture is mixed. Yes, the debt load is reasonable, but it's still higher than 80% of similar programs nationally, which matters for students who likely come from modest means (45% receive Pell grants). And while first-year earnings slightly exceed the national median, they're nothing to write home about—these are entry-level IT support wages, not software developer salaries. The 54th percentile national ranking signals this program produces about what you'd expect: competent but not exceptional outcomes.

For families weighing this option, the question is simple: can your child parlay this certificate into better opportunities within a year or two? The low debt means there's limited downside, but the modest starting salary means this needs to be a stepping stone—whether to additional education or a better-paying role—not the destination. If your child needs job-ready skills quickly and can't afford a bachelor's degree, this program won't sink them financially. Just don't expect it to launch them into a lucrative tech career right away.