Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie

A certificate program in networking that costs an estimated $14,699 against projected first-year earnings of $36,915 puts debt at roughly 40% of initial income—a manageable ratio that suggests graduates could feasibly pay down loans within a few years. These figures come from national patterns across similar programs, since Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. That said, the tech support and network administration jobs this certificate typically targets do offer steady entry points into IT work, particularly in smaller markets where hands-on credentials can compete with four-year degrees.

What makes this trickier to evaluate is that both the earnings and debt figures are estimates rather than confirmed outcomes for McKenzie specifically. Networking certificates vary considerably by region—some grads move into $40,000+ roles quickly, while others start closer to $30,000 in help desk positions. The school serves a largely Pell-eligible population (50%), which matters because these students often need immediate job placement to make the investment worthwhile. If your child already has some IT interest or experience, this could work as an affordable credential. But given the uncertainty in the estimates, you'd want to press the school for specifics: where do their graduates actually work, what positions do they fill, and what's typical starting pay in this region?