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

Carrington College-Tucson's vet tech program sits right in the middle of the pack—both nationally and within Arizona—but that debt number deserves attention. At $7,343, graduates carry less debt than the national median of $8,227, yet more than the state median of $7,748. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, students could realistically pay off their loans within a few months of full-time work, which matters significantly for a field where starting salaries hover around $25,700. The program performs at the 60th percentile among Arizona schools, meaning it's slightly above average for the state but not notably outperforming competitors like Pima Medical Institute-Phoenix, where grads earn about $3,000 more annually.

The modest 6% earnings growth to $27,160 by year four reflects the reality of veterinary technician work: it's stable employment in a field you likely enter because you love animals, not because of financial upside. With 61% of students receiving Pell grants, Carrington is clearly serving a population that needs affordable pathways into healthcare careers. The low debt burden makes this achievable, though families should recognize that even four years out, graduates earn just over $27,000—below what many entry-level positions in other healthcare fields offer.

If your child is committed to animal care and can handle the modest earnings, the manageable debt makes this viable. Just understand the income ceiling is real and arrives quickly.