Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at Arapahoe Community College

At an estimated $15,387 in debt leading to first-year earnings around $48,312, this program's numbers align with what mechanical engineering technology programs typically produce nationally—a manageable debt load relative to starting salary. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 means graduates would owe roughly one-third of their first year's income, which falls within the range where federal loan payments remain affordable under standard repayment plans.

What's harder to gauge is how Arapahoe specifically prepares students compared to Colorado's limited competition in this field. With only three schools offering this associate's degree in the state and none reporting actual outcomes publicly, you're making this decision without the usual peer comparisons. The national benchmark suggests mechanical engineering technicians start near $48K, with top programs pushing graduates toward $55K—but whether this particular program delivers closer to the median or the higher end remains unclear.

The practical challenge: you're evaluating a community college investment based entirely on what similar programs elsewhere achieve, with no visibility into this school's actual graduate outcomes, job placement rates, or employer connections in the Denver metro area. If your student has other Colorado options or can visit the campus to assess lab facilities and industry partnerships directly, those factors matter more here than the estimated numbers can tell you.