Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at Carrington College-Mesa

Carrington College-Mesa's vet tech program hits the median exactly for Arizona earnings but manages to keep debt slightly below both state and national averages. Four years out, graduates earn $27,160—right around the 75th percentile nationally—with reasonable 6% earnings growth. For a field where starting salaries hover around $26,000 regardless of where you train, this program delivers the credential without loading students with unnecessary debt.

The 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio works in graduates' favor: you're borrowing less than three months' salary to complete the program. Among Arizona's eight vet tech programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings while keeping debt lower than most competitors. Compare this to Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix, where graduates earn $3,000 more annually—if your child is deciding between these programs, that earnings difference might justify Pima's likely higher cost, but Carrington's lighter debt load matters when you're starting at $25,000.

The reality check: over half of students here receive Pell grants, and vet tech work rarely pays more than $30,000 even with experience. Your child needs to genuinely want to work with animals, because this isn't a path to financial comfort. But if this is their calling, Carrington provides the training at a reasonable price point, avoiding the debt traps that make low-paying passion careers financially untenable.