Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Cincinnati State's civil engineering technology program shows surprisingly solid mid-career growth despite a rough start. Graduates earn $50,612 their first year—well below the national median of $55,224—but reach $67,607 by year four, a 34% jump that significantly outpaces typical associate degree outcomes. Among Ohio's ten programs, this one lands at the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms most in-state alternatives even with those modest starting salaries.

The debt picture looks manageable at $20,721, translating to a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't cripple recent graduates. That ratio improves dramatically as earnings climb, and the program serves a meaningful Pell grant population (30%) without saddling students with excessive borrowing. The real question is whether your student can weather those first couple of years at lower pay while building the hands-on skills that apparently pay off later.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing considerably with a larger sample. But if you're looking at Ohio community colleges and want a technical path into infrastructure work, Cincinnati State delivers better outcomes than most state peers, with debt that won't follow your child around for decades. Just set expectations for that initial earnings period.