Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Daytona State College

Daytona State College's Engineering Technologies program delivers strong immediate earnings of $73,572—well above the national median and matching the Florida state median. The debt load of $23,319 is also manageable, translating to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.32. However, there's a significant complication: earnings drop sharply to $55,610 by year four, a 24% decline that's unusual for technical fields and raises questions about career trajectory or job stability.

The initial numbers look promising, especially given that 34% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves economically diverse students who see immediate financial returns. Among the limited number of engineering technology programs in Florida (only two offer bachelor's degrees), this one holds its own. But that earnings reversal is hard to ignore. It could reflect graduates moving into different roles, regional economic factors in Daytona Beach, or something about how these technician positions evolve over time.

For families weighing this option, the low debt burden and strong starting salary make it financially accessible and immediately profitable. Just understand that unlike most engineering-related degrees where earnings climb steadily, this program's typical graduate sees their income peak right away. If your student can leverage that strong first-year salary into upward mobility or use it as a launching pad for further credentials, this could work well—but don't bank on automatic salary growth.