Computer Systems Networking at South Louisiana Community College

Lafayette, LA · Public · Associate Degree · Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

with a smaller student body of 4,837 in Lafayette, LA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $35,328/yr, roughly in line with the $39,678 national median for Computer Systems Networking. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 43.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 68% task exposure — and the 0% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Computer Systems Networking graduates.

With first-year pay of $35,328 far exceeding the $10,750 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #32 out of 92 programs, South Louisiana Community College's Computer Systems Networking offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Computer Systems Networking has a registered apprenticeship option through It Project Manager with a median wage of $171,200/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $35,328/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (32% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (258,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$371K
1.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
44.1x
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
$8,420
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,750
3.7 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 South Louisiana Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does South Louisiana Community College's Computer Systems Networking program score?
At 62/100, South Louisiana Community College's Computer Systems Networking program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
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 $369,607 in decade earnings vs $371,222 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 →