Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Fort Valley State University

A $26,220 debt load for electrical engineering technology looks manageable compared to the Georgia median of $43,000 for this field, though that comparison comes with a caveat—both Fort Valley State's debt and earnings figures are estimates based on similar programs elsewhere. With a 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio, peer programs suggest graduates could pay off their student loans with less than five months of first-year salary, which falls well below typical financial stress thresholds.

The estimated $67,395 first-year earnings align with both state and national medians for this bachelor's degree, positioning it competitively against reported outcomes from programs like Kennesaw State ($71,064). For a school serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (72%), this represents a clear pathway to middle-class earnings. However, the lack of actual outcome data means we can't verify whether Fort Valley State's specific graduates achieve these results—the estimates simply tell us what similar programs typically produce.

The practical reality: if your child graduates with debt near this estimate and earnings in this range, they'll have breathing room in their budget. But given the data limitations, you'll want to ask the engineering technology department directly about their graduates' job placement rates and starting salaries. The program's fundamentals—engineering tech degrees generally lead to solid employment—suggest reasonable odds, but you're making this decision without the usual visibility into this specific school's track record.