Ground Transportation at Hamrick School

At $47,287 in first-year earnings, Hamrick School's ground transportation program outperforms 77% of similar programs nationally and 60% within Ohio—where the state median sits at $40,922. More importantly, graduates leave with just $6,333 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.13 that most four-year degree holders would envy. This is essentially a six-month payback period on educational investment, assuming graduates put 10% of earnings toward debt. The program ranks near Warren County Career Center ($44,616) among Ohio's top ground transportation certificates, but Hamrick's lower debt load gives it a clear edge in return on investment.

The one concern is the slight earnings dip to $46,726 by year four, though this 1% decline is negligible and could reflect anything from industry-wide wage patterns to where graduates choose to work. What matters more is that even after four years, earnings remain well above both state and national medians. With strong sample size backing these numbers, this program represents a low-risk entry point into transportation careers—particularly valuable for students wanting to avoid the debt burden of longer degree programs while still achieving above-average wages in a stable field.