Plumbing at Emily Griffith Technical College

Emily Griffith Technical College graduates earn nearly double the national median for plumbing programs—$63,386 versus $35,252 nationally—with minimal debt at just $6,500. That 0.10 debt-to-earnings ratio is exceptional: graduates owe roughly what they'll earn in their first five weeks of work. While this program ranks at the 90th percentile nationally, the 60th percentile state ranking is less impressive because it's currently the only plumbing program tracked in Colorado's data, making that state comparison less meaningful.

The earnings figure here significantly outpaces even top-performing plumbing programs elsewhere (the national 75th percentile sits at just $43,556). Denver's strong construction market and skilled trades demand likely drive these outcomes. The low debt load is particularly notable—graduates leave owing about 30% less than the national median for plumbing programs.

The major caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could swing these numbers considerably. But the fundamentals are sound—low debt, strong earning potential, and entry into a field with consistent demand. For a student committed to the trades, this represents one of the clearest positive return-on-investment scenarios in vocational education, assuming Denver-area employment.