Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations at University of Advancing Technology

With a 95% admission rate and nearly 60% of students on Pell grants, University of Advancing Technology delivers surprisingly strong outcomes in this specialized intelligence and cybersecurity field. Graduates earn $64,915 their first year—outperforming three-quarters of similar programs nationally—while carrying just $31,000 in debt. That 0.48 debt-to-earnings ratio means students borrow less than half what they'll earn, creating a manageable repayment path even for families without significant financial cushion.

The debt figure sits in the 5th percentile nationally for this program, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more borrowed money. When you're earning above the 75th percentile while borrowing less than most peers, you've found a program that understands its students' financial reality. Arizona has only two schools offering this degree, so state-level comparisons are limited, but UAT matches the state median for earnings while maintaining that favorable debt profile.

For families concerned about whether a specialized tech degree from a lesser-known school will pay off, these numbers suggest it does. The premium isn't in the prestige—it's in teaching employable skills that command solid starting salaries without burying students in debt. That's a combination that makes the program worth serious consideration, particularly for students drawn to intelligence analysis and information operations work.