Engineering Technology at Bunker Hill Community College

An estimated $14,000 in debt for an associate's degree that typically leads to nearly $48,000 in first-year earnings represents a manageable investment—roughly three months' salary. While these figures come from similar engineering technology programs nationally rather than Bunker Hill's actual graduate outcomes, they point to a credential that usually offers immediate earning power without crushing debt.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 sits well below the problematic threshold of 0.50, suggesting graduates from comparable programs can realistically handle their loan payments while building careers in fields like manufacturing, construction technology, or quality control. Engineering technology associate's degrees are designed to prepare students for hands-on technical roles that often pay better than many bachelor's degrees in other fields. With nearly 40% of Bunker Hill students receiving Pell grants, this program serves as an accessible pathway to solid middle-class earnings.

The caveat here is genuine uncertainty: we don't know if Bunker Hill's specific program matches these peer outcomes or significantly differs. If your child is considering this path, connect with the school's career services office to ask about actual job placement rates and starting salaries for recent graduates—those concrete numbers will tell you whether Bunker Hill's version of this credential delivers on the national pattern.