Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Camden County College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 makes this program look financially sensible on paper—peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $54,852 against estimated borrowing of roughly $12,000. That's a manageable debt load for entry-level technical work, particularly when similar programs in New Jersey typically leave graduates with $19,000 in debt. The lower borrowing estimate here, if accurate, represents a genuine advantage.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates since Camden County College's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. The national benchmark of $54,852 comes from the median of 49 comparable programs, and it aligns closely with what New Jersey programs typically produce ($55,516). But individual program quality varies significantly—DeVry's New Jersey graduates earn $58,056 while Thomas Edison State University's earn $52,977, a $5,000 spread that matters when you're starting your career.

For parents of students who need to stay local and keep costs down, Camden County likely delivers reasonable value if the estimates hold. With 39% of students receiving Pell grants, the college serves a budget-conscious population. The real question is whether the specific training and industry connections here match what employers in the Philadelphia-South Jersey corridor are seeking. Ask the department directly about job placement rates and local employer partnerships—those concrete details matter more than estimated medians when the actual graduate data isn't available.