Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Dixie Technical College

A certificate program with just $7,400 in debt sounds appealing, but the earnings picture here requires careful consideration. Based on national peer programs, first-year earnings of around $39,000 would place this program well below what electrical and power transmission installers typically earn in Utah—similar programs in the state report median earnings of $57,750, nearly 50% higher. Ogden-Weber Technical College's program, for instance, shows graduates earning that state median right out of the gate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 looks solid on paper, but that calculation assumes the lower national earnings figure holds true here. If Dixie Technical College's graduates actually match Utah's market—which would make sense given local wage rates—then this becomes an even stronger financial proposition. The real question is whether this program connects students to the higher-paying opportunities that exist in Utah's electrical trades market, or whether something about the curriculum, connections, or job placement leads to outcomes closer to the national baseline.

For families considering this program, the key is understanding why there's such a large gap between Utah's typical outcomes and the national estimate being used here. Contact the school directly about job placement rates and average starting wages for recent graduates in the Saint George area. If they're placing students into the same roles that command $57,000 elsewhere in Utah, this is likely a good value. If not, you'll want to understand what accounts for the difference.