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

Carrington College-Spokane stands out among Washington's veterinary tech programs, with first-year earnings of $27,411 placing it in the 77th percentile nationally and above the state median of $25,638. The $8,541 in typical debt translates to just 31 cents owed for every dollar earned in the first year—a manageable ratio that most graduates should be able to handle. With over half the student body receiving Pell grants, the program serves a predominantly working-class population while delivering better-than-average outcomes.

The earnings trajectory shows steady improvement, growing 14% to $31,369 by year four. While these aren't high absolute numbers, they're competitive for this field and better than what you'll find at most vet tech programs in the state. The solid sample size (100+ graduates) means these figures are reliable, not statistical noise.

For parents of students committed to animal care careers, this represents a reasonable entry point. The debt load is modest enough that it won't become crushing, and the earnings outpace both state and national norms. The real question is whether your child is prepared for the salary ceiling in this field—vet techs typically don't see dramatic income growth regardless of where they train. But if this is their calling, Carrington's combination of manageable debt and above-average starting pay makes it a solid choice among Washington options.