Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $47,867/yr fall 20% below the $59,611 national median for Management Information Systems and Services. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 40.0x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 22% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Management Information Systems and Services career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $22,300 in median debt against $47,867 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #63 ranking among 153 Management Information Systems and Services programs places Western Carolina University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $47,867-to-$77,089 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.