Computer Systems Networking at Northshore Technical Community College

Lacombe, LA · Public · Certificate · Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

a compact campus enrolling 2,156 students in Lacombe, LA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $28,518/yr fall 28% below the $39,678 national median for Computer Systems Networking. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 71.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Computer Systems Networking programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Computer Systems Networking's career paths, with 68% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

At #28 of 92 Computer Systems Networking programs, Northshore Technical Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

One registered apprenticeship pathway (It Project Manager with a median wage of $171,200/yr) connects to Computer Systems Networking careers, offering a paid training alternative to the classroom model.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
63
Score
65
High End
Earnings $28,518/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (32% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$300K
1.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
71.3x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
10 of 10
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$4,203

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Computer Systems Networking graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Computer and information research scientists $140,910 +19.7% 37%
Database architects $135,980 +8.7% 6%
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Computer and information research scientists
$140,910
+19.7% growth 37% AI-proof
Database architects
$135,980
+8.7% growth 6% AI-proof

View all 10 career paths with full salary data →

About Computer Systems Networking Careers

You’ll likely start your career with hands-on work as a network support specialist, spending your days in server rooms racking equipment, running ethernet cable, and using command-line tools to diagnose connectivity problems. With a few years of experience, you can advance into high-demand specializations. You might become an information security analyst—a rapidly growing field—using software to hunt for threats and configure firewalls. Or you could become a network architect, designing the blueprints for a company’s entire cloud infrastructure in AWS or Azure.

Read the full Computer Systems Networking career guide →

Compare & Explore

Computer Systems Networking Overview

Computer Systems Networking at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northshore Technical Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 63/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Computer Systems Networking at Northshore Technical Community College?
This program scores 63/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Computer Systems Networking graduates.
How vulnerable is Computer Systems Networking to AI automation?
With 68% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $298,361 in decade earnings vs $299,665 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Computer Systems Networking from Northshore Technical Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Northshore Technical Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Is there demand for Computer Systems Networking workers?
With approximately 258,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Computer Systems Networking offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →