Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Truckee Meadows Community College

With only three schools offering this program in Nevada and limited graduate cohorts, concrete data remains elusive—but the estimated figures from comparable programs nationwide paint a practical picture. An associate's degree in networking carrying roughly $15,800 in debt against first-year earnings around $43,300 suggests a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, which is reasonable for a two-year technical credential. This beats the typical debt burden for networking programs nationally, which runs closer to $22,000.

Similar programs in Nevada suggest earnings could reach the mid-$40,000s, though with significantly higher debt loads (the state median is nearly $33,000). If Truckee Meadows can deliver outcomes closer to these peer programs while maintaining lower borrowing, that's a meaningful advantage. The challenge is that we're working with broad estimates here—the actual graduate sample is too small to report, so you're essentially betting on a program without a verified track record.

For parents, the question becomes whether your student can absorb the uncertainty. The fundamentals—technical training, two-year timeline, sub-$16K debt estimate—look sound. But with Nevada's tech sector concentrated in Reno and Las Vegas, local networking opportunities matter more than national averages suggest. Visit the program, talk to current students about job placement, and understand that these estimates, while reasonable, aren't guarantees of what this specific program delivers.