Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 puts this program in financially favorable territory, though understanding the estimates here matters. Based on comparable electrical and power transmission programs nationally, first-year earnings around $38,700 against estimated debt of $7,400 means graduates would need less than three months of gross pay to cover their educational investment. That's a solid foundation for entering the skilled trades, where early career earnings often grow as electricians gain experience and specialized certifications.

The challenge is that Missouri has six schools offering this credential, but only Cape Girardeau's figures are suppressed due to small cohort sizes—meaning we're working entirely from national benchmarks rather than local labor market data. Similar programs nationally show considerable variation, with top performers reaching $47,000 in first-year earnings. Whether Cape Girardeau's graduates land closer to that 75th percentile or below the median depends heavily on local demand for electrical work and the program's industry connections, neither of which the estimates can capture.

For families considering this path, the key question is whether Cape Girardeau specifically prepares students for Missouri's electrical industry. The low estimated debt makes this a manageable risk compared to longer programs, but before enrolling, you'll want direct answers from the school about job placement rates, local employer partnerships, and whether graduates are earning closer to $40,000 or $50,000. The numbers suggest promise, but the suppressed data means you're betting on the program's execution rather than its proven track record.