Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Wichita Technical Institute

Wichita Technical Institute's networking program sits in an uncomfortable spot: while it ranks above the median for Kansas schools, its graduates earn just $29,650 their first year out—less than 70% of what graduates from similar programs earn nationally. That $43,000 national median isn't some elite benchmark; it's what typical two-year networking programs deliver, making this program's performance genuinely concerning.

The debt burden compounds the problem. At $25,208, graduates owe nearly 85% of their first-year salary, and they're starting from a significantly lower earnings base than their counterparts at other schools. For a program serving predominantly Pell grant recipients (75%), this creates real financial pressure. These students likely need every dollar they earn, yet they're starting nearly $14,000 behind the national curve while carrying above-average debt loads for Kansas.

Being at the 60th percentile among Kansas programs offers little comfort when the state's median earnings match this school's exactly—it suggests Kansas networking programs overall underperform nationally. Your child would be entering a field where technical skills typically command solid wages, but this particular program doesn't appear to deliver that advantage. Unless staying in Wichita for family reasons or other compelling circumstances makes this the only viable option, programs in other states offer substantially better earning potential for similar debt levels.