Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Cleveland Community College

Programs like this across North Carolina typically produce first-year earnings around $52,000—substantially higher than the $38,700 national median this estimate is based on. If Cleveland Community College's program performs closer to peer schools in the state, graduates would earn enough to cover the estimated $7,400 debt roughly seven times over in their first year. That's a manageable debt load even if earnings come in at the lower national benchmark.

The challenge is uncertainty. With no reported data from this specific program, it's impossible to know whether graduates land the higher-paying North Carolina positions or struggle to break into the trade. The field itself is stable—electrical work remains essential infrastructure—but location, local apprenticeship networks, and job placement support matter tremendously. Nash Community College, for instance, reports that median $52,000 figure, suggesting well-connected programs in the state can deliver strong outcomes.

For parents, this means investigating what Cleveland Community College can't show in the data: Where do graduates actually work? What's the job placement rate? Do they help students connect with union apprenticeships or utility companies? The estimated numbers suggest low financial risk, but without concrete outcomes from this program, you're betting on the school's ability to match what similar North Carolina programs achieve. Ask direct questions about graduate employment before committing.