Air Transportation at Great Bay Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 suggests this program could be manageable financially, though the numbers deserve scrutiny. Based on national data from similar associate programs in air transportation, graduates typically start around $42,500 annually with roughly $13,200 in debt. That's a 3-month payback period—reasonable by most measures. However, these figures come from peer programs nationwide, not Great Bay's actual graduate outcomes, so they reflect what's typical for this credential rather than this school's specific track record.

The aviation field presents both opportunities and pitfalls at the associate level. Some graduates move into aircraft maintenance, dispatch, or airport operations roles where the math works. Others find the associate degree is just a stepping stone requiring further training or certifications before accessing better-paying positions. National benchmarks show the top quarter of air transportation associate programs produce first-year earnings around $53,000—25% higher than the typical outcome—suggesting program quality and regional aviation markets matter considerably.

Without reported data from Great Bay itself, you're essentially betting on whether this program performs like the national average. If your child is committed to aviation and New Hampshire's aviation sector has strong employer connections with the school, the debt load is light enough to justify the risk. But verify what certifications the program includes and whether graduates actually land jobs locally before committing.