Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Big Sandy's electrical program graduates earn $32,115 in their first year—roughly $12,000 less than the Kentucky median for this degree and a troubling $22,000 below what graduates at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College earn in the same field. Even among Kentucky's nine programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of similar programs in the state produce better outcomes. Nationally, it lands in the bottom 5%, which is particularly striking given that electrical work typically offers solid middle-class wages.

The debt picture adds urgency to these concerns. At $10,250, graduates carry more debt than the state median ($7,338) despite earning significantly less. While the 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio appears manageable on paper, it reflects an unfavorable combination: higher-than-typical borrowing paired with below-market wages. For context, Big Sandy serves many Pell-eligible students (44%), making these economics especially consequential for families with limited financial cushion.

If your child is committed to electrical work in eastern Kentucky, investigate why this program's outcomes lag so far behind state peers. Regional job markets matter, but a $37,000 gap between this program and Elizabethtown suggests factors beyond geography. At minimum, prospective students should explore whether nearby programs offer better career services, employer connections, or training that commands higher wages in the field.