Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College's electrical and power transmission program produces remarkable outcomes that most parents would never discover without looking at the data. Graduates earn $64,748 right out of the gate—nearly $21,000 above the state median for this field and $20,000 above the national median. Among Kentucky's nine programs in this field, only Owensboro beats it, and it significantly outperforms programs at Big Sandy and West Kentucky. With just $6,950 in typical debt, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.11 means graduates owe roughly three weeks' worth of pre-tax income.

The program ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for both high earnings and low debt—an unusual combination that signals exceptional value. Earnings stay relatively flat from year one to year four, but that's not a problem here; when you're already making $65,000 with minimal debt after two years of college, you've landed in a strong position from day one. The stability of these earnings suggests the program leads to solid career placement rather than temporary contractor work.

For families concerned about college costs, this is exactly what an associate degree should deliver: immediate earning power with minimal debt. The fact that over a third of students receive Pell grants yet still achieve these outcomes shows the program works across income levels.