Location: Portales, NM•In-State Tuition: $6,863•Out-of-State Tuition: $8,843•Admission Rate: 55%•Avg SAT: 965
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$56,704
Est. from national median (34 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$12,000
Est. from national median (21 programs)

Analysis

The numbers here suggest a manageable investment, though they're pieced together from national patterns rather than Eastern New Mexico's actual track record. With estimated first-year earnings around $57,000 against roughly $12,000 in debt, peer programs in industrial production typically deliver a debt burden of about three months' salary—well within the sweet spot most financial advisors recommend for career-technical programs.

What makes this estimate harder to pin down is the wide variation in industrial production programs nationally. The gap between typical and top-performing programs ($57,000 versus $64,000) hints that local industry connections and employer relationships—factors that don't show up in these baseline comparisons—matter significantly. Since New Mexico has seven programs but none with published outcomes, you'll need to dig into where ENMU's specific program places graduates and whether those employers align with higher-paying sectors like oil and gas equipment manufacturing versus lower-tier production work.

The debt-to-earnings math works on paper, but you're betting on an estimate built from programs across the country, not outcomes from students who actually walked ENMU's campus. Before committing, verify where recent graduates landed jobs and what they're actually earning—a few phone calls to program alumni could confirm whether this school's version of industrial production delivers on the national pattern or falls short.

Where Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally

Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus (estimated ±10%)Other industrial production technologies/technicians programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales$6,863$56,704*—$12,000*—
Baton Rouge Community CollegeBaton Rouge$4,221$103,572*$114,358$16,000*0.15
Arkansas Northeastern CollegeBlytheville$2,570$97,406*——*—
Olympic CollegeBremerton$4,197$86,309*$81,453$6,875*0.08
Bismarck State CollegeBismarck$5,195$82,310*$100,657$12,000*0.15
Portland Community CollegePortland$5,040$78,450*$72,111—*—
National Median—$56,704*—$13,500*0.24
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 34 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.