Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at University of Central Arkansas

A first-year salary near $58,000—drawn from national benchmarks for similar IT management programs—suggests solid but unspectacular returns, especially when Arkansas programs with reported data show median earnings closer to $87,000. That's a substantial gap that should frame expectations. With estimated debt around $25,000 based on typical borrowing at similar public universities, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 looks manageable on paper. Graduates could theoretically pay off loans in a few years if they maintain disciplined budgets.

The uncertainty here matters, though. University of Central Arkansas enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible students, and this program's small graduate cohort means we're working with educated guesses rather than track records. The national figures suggest competence-level IT jobs—help desk managers, systems administrators—while Arkansas's higher state median hints that some programs here prepare students for more lucrative roles in enterprise systems or security management. Whether UCA's curriculum leans toward the former or latter makes a real difference in outcomes, and without program-specific data, you're buying blind.

Given the state's limited options for this credential and UCA's accessible admissions, this could work for a student already in Conway who needs to stay local and has genuine interest in technical management. But if your child has geographic flexibility and strong enough credentials for more selective programs, look hard at schools with transparent outcomes data before committing.