Location: Paducah, KY•In-State Tuition: $4,656•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,192
Median Earnings (1yr)
$36,332
33rd percentile
60th percentile in Kentucky
Median Debt
$10,875
1% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.30 ManageableSample: 18 graduates Limited data

Analysis

West Kentucky Community and Technical College's computer science certificate produces earnings that sit squarely at Kentucky's median for this credential, but significantly trail the state's top performers. At $36,332 one year out, graduates earn about $4,000 less than those from Jefferson Community and Technical College and nearly $9,000 less than Gateway's program. While the debt load is manageable at $10,875—resulting in a reasonable 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio—the real question is whether this program positions graduates competitively in Kentucky's tech job market.

The earnings gap matters because these are entry-level IT positions where starting salaries set the trajectory for career growth. Gateway and Jefferson's programs demonstrate that similar community college certificates can deliver 15-25% higher initial earnings. For families in western Kentucky considering this program, the location convenience might come at a measurable cost compared to making the drive to Louisville or Lexington for training.

That said, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift considerably year to year. The low debt is genuinely attractive for a short-term credential, and for students who need to stay local, this beats not pursuing technical training at all. But if relocating for school is feasible, Kentucky has clearly stronger options in this same program category.

Where West Kentucky Community and Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all computer and information sciences certificate's programs nationally

West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeOther computer and information sciences programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

West Kentucky Community and Technical College earns $36k — 33th percentile among computer and information sciences certificate programs.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Computer and Information Sciences certificate's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (17 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
West Kentucky Community and Technical CollegePaducah$4,656$36,332—$10,8750.30
Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence$4,656$45,428—$10,3130.23
Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeLouisville$4,706$41,543—$14,0820.34
Maysville Community and Technical CollegeMaysville$4,656$39,342—$10,5000.27
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington$4,706$37,019—$14,8230.40
Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeOwensboro$4,656$35,174———
National Median—$38,858—$11,0000.28

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with computer and information sciences graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer and Information Research Scientists

Conduct research into fundamental computer and information science as theorists, designers, or inventors. Develop solutions to problems in the field of computer hardware and software.

$140,910/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Software Developers

Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

Develop and execute software tests to identify software problems and their causes. Test system modifications to prepare for implementation. Document software and application defects using a bug tracking system and report defects to software or web developers. Create and maintain databases of known defects. May participate in software design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, operational characteristics, product designs, and schedules.

$131,450/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Network Architects

Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures. May also design network and computer security measures. May research and recommend network and data communications hardware and software.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Telecommunications Engineering Specialists

Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.

$130,390/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Administrators

Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability. May plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard computer databases.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At West Kentucky Community and Technical College, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 18 graduates with reported earnings and 40 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.