Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at The University of Olivet

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 looks manageable on paper, but the estimates here deserve scrutiny. Similar IT administration programs in Michigan suggest first-year earnings around $56,000, with debt hovering near $27,000—numbers that track closely with national medians for this credential. The challenge? Peer programs with actual reported outcomes span a wide range, from Michigan Tech grads earning nearly $78,000 to Davenport grads starting closer to $51,000. That $27,000 gap matters significantly when you're calculating loan payback timelines.

For a small private college in rural Michigan serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students, the comparison to larger public universities is telling. Programs at schools like Eastern Michigan and Baker College—institutions with more resources and established tech industry connections—produce outcomes in the $57-59K range based on actual data. Olivet's estimated position right at the state median suggests neither an advantage nor a red flag, but it also means families are betting on an outcome with less certainty than they'd have at programs with verified track records.

The practical question: Can you justify $27,000 in loans for earnings that comparable programs suggest will be moderate rather than exceptional? If your student has admission offers from Michigan's public universities with reported IT outcomes, those provide clearer benchmarks. If Olivet offers substantially lower net cost or other compelling reasons to attend, the estimated financial picture isn't alarming—just unproven.