Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians at Excelsior University

Excelsior University's Energy Systems Technologies program reports six-figure earnings just one year out—$110,398, putting graduates well above the $67,764 national median for this field. The debt load of $33,328 is reasonable given those earnings, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that suggests graduates earn back their entire student debt in under four months of work. Nationally, this program ranks in the 95th percentile for earnings, an impressive showing.

However, the small print matters here: fewer than 30 students were tracked for this data. That's a tiny sample that could swing dramatically with just a few outliers—perhaps a couple graduates who landed exceptionally well-paying utility or energy infrastructure roles. The state-level picture adds complexity: while this ranks 60th percentile in New York, only three schools offer this bachelor's program statewide, making direct comparisons less meaningful. New York's energy sector jobs may simply pay well across the board.

For parents considering this program, the numbers look strong on paper, but the small cohort size means you can't bank on these outcomes with the same confidence you could for a program graduating hundreds of students annually. If your student has genuine interest in energy systems and this online format fits their learning style, the debt burden isn't prohibitive. Just understand you're working with limited data points rather than a proven track record.