Computer and Information Sciences at Walters State Community College

In Tennessee's community college market for IT programs, $36,266 in first-year earnings puts Walters State slightly above the state median but well behind the leaders—Pellissippi State and Nashville State graduates are pulling in over $42,000 right out of the gate. The estimated debt burden of around $13,200, based on comparable Tennessee programs, creates a manageable 0.37 debt-to-earnings ratio that should be repayable within a reasonable timeframe. Still, that $6,000-8,000 earnings gap compared to top programs in the state represents real money when you're launching a career.

The challenge here is that we're working with estimated debt figures rather than this program's actual outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether Walters State's specific graduates face more or less debt than the state average. What we do know is that the earnings are middling—just above the Tennessee median but nowhere near exceptional. For a field where associate's degrees can lead directly to employment, that positioning matters.

If your student is committed to staying local or has strong reasons to choose Walters State specifically, the numbers aren't prohibitive. But given the documented earnings premium at other Tennessee community colleges offering the same credential, it's worth investigating what's driving those differences—whether it's curriculum focus, employer connections, or regional job markets—before committing.