Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at California Institute of Arts & Technology

With a first-year salary of $48,778 and just $21,696 in debt, California Institute of Arts & Technology delivers one of the strongest debt profiles in the country for this field—ranking in the 5th percentile nationally means 95% of similar programs leave students with more debt. The 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio is notably better than what most associate degree programs achieve, and graduates earn about $5,600 more than the national median for computer engineering technology programs. For a school where nearly a third of students receive Pell grants, these outcomes suggest strong value for working-class students entering technical careers.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. You're looking at a snapshot that may not represent typical outcomes. It's also worth noting that California has only five schools offering this associate degree, so the state comparison isn't as meaningful as it would be in a more competitive market.

If your child is considering this program, the debt burden is manageable enough that even if earnings don't match this cohort's success, they won't be trapped by payments. The combination of low debt and above-average starting pay creates real flexibility for graduates, whether they enter the workforce immediately or continue their education. Just recognize you're making this decision with limited historical data.