Est. Earnings (1yr)
$55,532
Est. from national median (29 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$11,875
Est. from national median (12 programs)

Analysis

For families weighing technical training options, Hill College's heavy equipment maintenance program appears financially sound based on what similar programs nationally deliver. While this specific program lacks published graduate outcomes due to small cohort sizes, comparable associate programs across the country typically produce first-year earnings around $55,500 against median debt of roughly $12,000. That 0.21 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within workable territory—graduates would owe about two months of salary, manageable on a technician's income.

The industrial equipment maintenance field offers solid footing for associate-level credentials. Peer programs suggest graduates enter a market where hands-on skills translate directly to employer needs, and the relatively low debt burden means students aren't gambling heavily on the outcome. With 30% of Hill College students receiving Pell grants, the school serves a population for whom affordable career training matters enormously. The estimated figures here align with national patterns for programs that consistently place graduates into skilled trades work.

The core question is whether Hill College's specific program delivers what its national counterparts do. Without published data for Texas programs—only four schools statewide offer this training—parents should visit the campus, talk to instructors about job placement rates, and ask which employers actively recruit graduates. The financial framework looks promising, but confirming that Hill College's connections to equipment dealers and industrial facilities match the national pattern matters as much as the numbers themselves.

Where Hill College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies associates's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Hill CollegeHillsboro$3,570$55,532*—$11,875*—
Oklahoma State University Institute of TechnologyOkmulgee$5,774$68,422*—$11,667*0.17
Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount$6,419$67,618*$69,147$12,000*0.18
Gateway Community and Technical CollegeFlorence$4,656$66,827*—$12,000*0.18
Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeElizabethtown$4,656$65,535*$70,340$10,838*0.17
Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeLexington$4,706$64,355*$73,100$10,250*0.16
National Median—$55,532*—$12,000*0.22
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with heavy/industrial equipment maintenance technologies graduates

Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers

Assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.

$106,580/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Industrial Machinery Mechanics

Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Maintenance Workers, Machinery

Lubricate machinery, change parts, or perform other routine machinery maintenance.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Millwrights

Install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, or other drawings.

$63,510/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul mobile mechanical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment, such as cranes, bulldozers, graders, and conveyors, used in construction, logging, and mining.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Rail Car Repairers

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul railroad rolling stock, mine cars, or mass transit rail cars.

$62,740/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Wind Turbine Service Technicians

Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.

$62,580/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door

Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.

Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons

Build or repair equipment such as furnaces, kilns, cupolas, boilers, converters, ladles, soaking pits, and ovens, using refractory materials.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Hill College, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 29 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.