Management Information Systems and Services at University of Louisiana at Monroe

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 suggests solid financial footing for this program—peer MIS programs nationally produce graduates earning around $59,490 in their first year against roughly $23,000 in debt. That's manageable by most standards, with monthly payments consuming a reasonable portion of early-career income. What's striking is how this estimate compares to Louisiana's reality: the two MIS programs in the state with reported outcomes show graduates earning $44,000-$48,000, well below the national figure this estimate draws from. If ULM's actual outcomes track closer to state peers than national averages, the financial picture dims considerably.

The uncertainty here matters because $59,000 versus $45,000 isn't a rounding error—it's the difference between comfortable debt service and financial strain. MIS degrees generally lead to solid tech-adjacent careers in database management, systems analysis, and IT project coordination, fields with decent growth prospects even in Louisiana's economy. But without this program's actual outcomes, you're betting that ULM's graduates somehow outperform neighboring schools by 20-30%, which seems optimistic given similar admission standards and student populations across these institutions.

If your child is choosing between ULM and Louisiana Tech (which does report data), the safer bet is clear. If ULM is the only realistic option due to location or cost, understand you're accepting meaningful uncertainty about whether the debt load will prove manageable on a Louisiana tech salary.