Computer Systems Networking at Houston Community College

Houston, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

serving a student body of 37,970 in Houston, TX.

Program Analysis

At $42,875 per year, Computer Systems Networking graduates from Houston Community College earn slightly above the $39,678 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 109.9x 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.

The median debt load of $14,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #8 of 92 programs, Houston Community College's Computer Systems Networking program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

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.

76 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
76
Score
78
High End
Earnings $42,875/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (32% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$451K
1.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
110.4x
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 (In-State)
$4,080
Out-of-state: $10,920
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,750
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

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 Houston Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Computer Systems Networking at Houston Community College?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Houston Community College's Computer Systems Networking graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Will AI affect Computer Systems Networking careers?
With 68% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $448,568 in decade earnings vs $450,527 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How many job openings are there for Computer Systems Networking graduates?
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 →