Computer and Information Sciences at Utah Tech University

A short-term credential in computer science is supposed to offer quick upside, but the estimated numbers here—drawn from three similar Utah programs—suggest something more modest. First-year earnings around $41,600 place this outcome squarely at the state median for these certificates, which means half of comparable programs produce less. With estimated debt near $12,500, you're looking at a manageable burden that represents about three months of gross income, putting graduates in a position to clear their loans within a reasonable timeframe if they stay employed.

The wider Utah landscape tells a revealing story: Salt Lake Community College's computer certificate graduates earn $57,400 in their first year—nearly 40% more than what peer programs typically produce. That gap matters when you're deciding between similar credentials across the state. For Utah Tech specifically, we're working with estimates because too few graduates completed this certificate to generate reliable school-specific data, which itself raises questions about the program's scale and consistency.

The practical reality is that your child would likely finish with debt they can handle, but they might not land the entry-level tech salary you'd hope for given the field's reputation. Before committing, you need to understand why this program has such limited completion data and whether the school can demonstrate actual job placement success beyond what the estimates suggest.