Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians at DeVry University-California

DeVry's electromechanical instrumentation program comes with a significant caveat: we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers may not reflect your child's likely outcome. That said, the data shows starting earnings of $62,864—exactly the national median—but graduates carry $52,062 in debt, putting them in the 95th percentile for borrowing nationwide. That's a steep price for median outcomes, resulting in a debt load roughly 83% of first-year earnings.

The growth trajectory offers some relief. Earnings climb 15% to $72,119 by year four, and the program ranks in the 60th percentile among California's four schools offering this degree. For a field where hands-on skills often matter more than credentials, that upward momentum is meaningful. The school serves a largely Pell-eligible population (54%), which may explain the higher borrowing levels—these students often need loans to cover living expenses, not just tuition.

The fundamental question is whether a bachelor's degree justifies this debt load. With only 48 schools nationwide offering this program at the bachelor's level, many technicians enter the field with associate degrees and far less debt. If your child needs the four-year credential for specific career goals, understand you're paying a premium. Given the small sample size, request information about job placement rates and talk to recent graduates before committing to this borrowing level.