Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Temple College

Temple College's IT administration associate's degree appears to underperform the Texas market, where similar programs typically produce first-year earnings around $49,000—about $7,400 more than estimates suggest for this program. That gap matters when you're looking at roughly $17,500 in debt, because even at the estimated national median of $41,752, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 remains manageable. The real question is whether Temple College's specific outcomes match the weaker national pattern or the stronger Texas reality.

The comparison with Texas State Technical College ($36,509 in reported first-year earnings) suggests the estimated $41,752 figure might actually be optimistic for community college IT programs in Texas. Meanwhile, programs at schools like Strayer reach over $60,000, though those come with different cost structures. For a family concerned about return on investment, the estimated debt load here is notably lower than both state and national medians for these programs, which typically run $21,000-$23,000.

Given that 40% of Temple students receive Pell grants, the relatively modest debt estimate is significant. If the actual earnings land anywhere near the Texas median, you're looking at reasonable debt for solid technical training. But if they track closer to the lower-performing Texas programs, this becomes a credential that works mainly if your student can minimize borrowing further or has clear employment connections in the area.