Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Tacoma Community College

A certificate in networking from Tacoma Community College comes with an estimated debt load of $14,699—about 27% above the national median for similar programs—to access a field where peer programs nationally produce first-year earnings around $36,915. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, meaning you'd carry debt equivalent to roughly five months of gross income. For a shorter-term credential, that's a manageable starting point, though it's worth noting the debt here runs higher than typical for this type of program.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates since this program's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. What we know from the 480 similar programs nationally is that first-year earnings cluster fairly tightly—the 75th percentile is only about $1,700 higher than the median—suggesting networking certificates produce relatively consistent entry-level outcomes regardless of where you earn them. Washington's tech-heavy job market could work in your favor, but without data from the 22 state programs offering this credential, that remains speculative.

The practical question: can your child leverage Tacoma's local employer connections and Washington's tech ecosystem to justify the above-average debt? If this certificate serves as a stepping stone to either immediate employment with upward mobility or further education, the numbers work. If it's a standalone credential without a clear job pathway, the debt premium becomes harder to defend.