Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at Baker College

Baker College's veterinary technician program sits right at Michigan's median for earnings but charges notably less in debt than competing in-state options—$19,603 versus the state median of $21,635. Among Michigan's six programs, it ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings despite being slightly below the national median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 is manageable, meaning graduates owe about half of what they'll earn in their first year.

The harder reality to address: earnings essentially flatline around $35,000 across the first four years. This reflects broader industry economics for veterinary technicians, not a failing of Baker's program specifically. Macomb Community College does push graduates about $3,000 higher, but the difference isn't transformative when you're starting in the mid-$30,000s regardless. The program serves Baker's student population (38% on Pell grants) reasonably well with accessible admission and lower debt loads than state competitors.

For families questioning whether this career path justifies the investment, the math works better than many allied health programs: debt you can pay down within two years of earnings, and immediate entry into a field you're passionate about. Just understand you're choosing job satisfaction over salary growth—veterinary technician wages stay compressed industrywide, and this program won't be the exception.