Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection at Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education

A $25,158 starting salary for a construction certificate program raises immediate concerns—it's barely above minimum wage for full-time work and well below the national median of $28,485 for similar programs. The 60th percentile state ranking is misleading here: Kentucky only has three schools offering this certificate, so being "above average" locally means little when the national picture shows this program landing in just the 5th percentile nationwide. This is a program serving predominantly low-income students (67% receive Pell grants) but not delivering the economic outcomes they need.

The debt burden of $11,510 compounds the problem. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 looks manageable on paper, you're asking graduates to devote nearly half a year's income to repaying loans for a credential that should lead to skilled trades work. The fact that this debt level sits in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs carry less debt—suggests either program inefficiency or scope creep beyond what students actually need. Construction finishing work shouldn't require this much educational debt.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, but even accounting for that uncertainty, this program struggles to justify its cost. For families considering construction trades, a traditional apprenticeship or community college certificate with lower debt might deliver better value. If this school is the only accessible option, students should enter with eyes open about the financial reality waiting after graduation.