ROI Major

Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Western Iowa Tech Community College

IA · Associate's Degree · CIP 11.10

Apply Now Data: 2026 release

Executive Summary

Graduates with a Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management degree from Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median salary of $40,944 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in IA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $45,901. The degree typically pays for itself in 36.7 years.

Quick Insights

Slow Burn / High Debt Risk

How this degree looks at a glance

A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.

Salary Ranges

Starting Range

$30,143

Typical Career

$40,944

Top Performers

$54,051

Estimated break-even: 36.7 years.

Debt-to-Income Check

$273

Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment

Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,412. Most students can comfortably afford about a $273 monthly loan payment with this degree.

Comparison Bench

This degree earns 1.1x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.

Purchasing Power Context

A dollar in Iowa buys what costs $0.89 nationally.

Industry Breadcrumbs

Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Retail Trade.

Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work

Health Care & Social Assistance 33.0%
Manufacturing 12.1%
Retail Trade 10.3%

Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.

5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent

$45,901

Nominal: $40,944 in Iowa (COL 89.2% of national avg) · 12.1% higher purchasing power

10-Year Earnings Curve

Break-Even Timeline

How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).

36.7 years to break even
Graduation 15 years

Total Investment

$155,168

4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost

HS Graduate Baseline

$38,792/yr

BLS 2023 median, HS diploma

View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
Timeframe 25th Pct. Median (50th) 75th Pct.
1 Year After Graduation $27,071 $33,548 $41,019
5 Years After Graduation $30,143 $40,944 $54,051
10 Years After Graduation $32,534 $44,129 $68,838

Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).

How We Calculate Purchasing Power

The median salary of $40,944 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in IA, which has a cost-of-living index of 89.2% of the national average.

Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $40,944 × (1.0 ÷ 0.8920) = $45,901 National Average equivalent.

COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →

Career Verdict

Graduates from the Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management program at Western Iowa Tech Community College experience a steady earnings trajectory. One year after graduation, median earnings stand at $33,548, increasing to $40,944 five years later, and reaching $44,129 a decade post-graduation. When adjusted for purchasing power, the five-year salary aligns more closely with a national equivalent of $45,901.35, reflecting the program's potential to provide a competitive salary in the context of the cost of living in Iowa.

The primary industries where graduates find employment are predominantly in Health Care & Social Assistance, with 48.1%, 33.0%, and 26.4% of graduates entering this sector at various stages. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 36.7 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing this degree may be considered moderate. While the program offers a viable career path, prospective students should weigh the long-term financial implications against their personal and professional goals.

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See how the Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management degree at Western Iowa Tech Community College stacks up against another institution side-by-side.

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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.