Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology

At first glance, $36,000 starting pay for an associate's degree in tech seems underwhelming—it's nearly $7,000 below the national median for this field. But within Massachusetts, where tech jobs typically command premium salaries, Benjamin Franklin Cummings actually matches the state median. This suggests you're looking at a regional reality rather than a program-specific weakness, though with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift considerably year to year.

The debt load tells a more encouraging story. At $13,750, graduates leave with manageable debt that equals just 38% of their first year's salary—well below the threshold where loan payments typically strain budgets. For families where 40% of students qualify for Pell grants, this accessibility matters. The tradeoff is clear: you're paying less and earning less compared to what computer engineering tech grads see in other states.

The central question is whether Boston-area employers value this credential enough to justify local living costs. If your child plans to stay in Massachusetts, they'll start at the same point as peers from other in-state programs but significantly behind the national pack. For families prioritizing low debt over maximum starting salary, that calculus might work—just recognize the small sample size means this program's outcomes could look quite different next year.