Construction Engineering Technologies at Frederick Community College

With an estimated $12,563 in debt to reach first-year earnings around $56,000, this construction technology program appears to offer a manageable financial path—though parents should understand these figures come from national peer programs rather than Frederick Community College's own graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 suggests borrowers could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross income, which puts this squarely in "good investment" territory if the estimates hold true.

The challenge is that Frederick Community College is the only school in Maryland offering this associate degree, making local comparisons impossible. Nationally, similar construction technology programs range from the $56,000 baseline up to $73,000 at the 75th percentile, suggesting this field rewards additional credentials, experience, or geographic mobility. Construction trades remain strong in the Mid-Atlantic region, and an associate degree can provide technical knowledge that separates graduates from workers with only on-the-job training.

The practical takeaway: if your child is mechanically inclined and interested in the building trades, this program's estimated debt load shouldn't be a barrier to entry. However, the lack of actual graduate data means you're betting on your child matching outcomes from peer programs elsewhere. Visit the campus, talk to faculty about job placement, and confirm that local construction firms actually recruit from this specific program before committing.