Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

In Tennessee, IT administration programs show a striking range—from $34,000 to over $60,000 in first-year earnings—making peer comparisons particularly important for this program. Based on national medians from similar programs, graduates here might expect around $42,000 their first year, which falls well below Tennessee's typical $48,000 for this credential. That gap matters because it affects how manageable the estimated $17,500 in debt becomes.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 looks reasonable on paper—you'd owe less than half your first-year salary. But comparable programs across Tennessee typically carry higher debt (around $27,000), suggesting this school may keep costs in check better than peers. Still, when similar programs in-state produce $6,000 more in annual earnings, the lower debt doesn't fully compensate for potentially reduced earning power. Over a few years, that earnings gap compounds significantly.

Without actual outcomes data from this specific program, you're placing a bet on whether this school's approach matches the national pattern or Tennessee's stronger performance. Given that other Tennessee IT programs demonstrate both higher debt and substantially higher earnings, ask the school directly about job placement rates and which employers hire their graduates. The difference between this program tracking closer to national figures versus Tennessee norms could mean $20,000+ in earnings variation over four years.