Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at University of Phoenix-Arizona

University of Phoenix's IT management program lands you at $60,401 within a year of graduation—slightly above the national median but notably below other Arizona programs. The real concern isn't the starting salary; it's what happens next. Four years out, earnings remain essentially flat at $60,536, while Arizona State graduates at the same point are already earning $62,000 and climbing. In a field where skills compound and career trajectories typically accelerate, stagnation is a red flag.

The debt burden compounds this problem. At $46,262, you're carrying 71% more debt than the national median for this program and 43% more than the Arizona average. This puts the program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle graduates with less burden. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 is manageable in theory, but only if earnings grow. When they don't, you're treading water longer than necessary.

For an anxious parent, the calculation is straightforward: you're paying a premium (in debt) for outcomes that trail state alternatives and show no momentum. If Arizona State is an option—with similar first-year earnings, lower debt, and stronger career growth—it's hard to justify the financial handicap. The nearly 50% Pell grant population suggests this program serves students with limited alternatives, but that doesn't make it a smart investment when better options exist in-state.