Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection at Cankdeska Cikana Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 puts this construction management program in solid financial territory—peer programs nationally suggest graduates earn enough in their first year to manage debt payments comfortably. Based on similar associate's programs across the country, you're looking at roughly $44,000 in first-year earnings against about $11,000 in debt, which translates to manageable monthly payments even on entry-level construction wages.

The challenge here is that all these figures come from comparable programs elsewhere, not Cankdeska Cikana's actual graduates, because the school's class sizes are too small for the Department of Education to publish data. What we do know: construction trade programs typically lead to steady work, and the debt load here appears reasonable compared to the national median for this credential. With 55% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population where minimizing debt matters enormously.

For a parent evaluating this investment, the estimated numbers point toward affordability, but you'll want direct answers from the school about job placement rates and whether local construction employers actively recruit from this program. North Dakota's construction market and the school's connections to regional employers will matter more than national earnings estimates when your student is looking for that first job.