Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Houston Community College

Houston Community College graduates enter the workforce with strong initial earnings of $60,612—solidly above both the national and Texas medians for this field. Among Texas programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile, performing competitively with established technical programs across the state. The bigger concern is what comes next: earnings drop to $50,432 by year four, a 17% decline that's unusual for technical fields where experience typically commands higher pay.

The debt picture adds complexity. At $21,740, graduates carry nearly double the national median for this program, though the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 remains manageable. Still, paired with declining earnings, this means the debt burden grows heavier over time rather than lighter. Graduates who rely on that first-year salary to plan their loan repayment may find themselves squeezed as their income falls.

This program delivers legitimate technical training—the initial earnings prove that—but something changes after graduates establish themselves in the field. Whether that's career path limitations, industry dynamics in Houston, or graduates transitioning out of technical roles isn't clear from the data. Parents should factor in that declining earnings trajectory when calculating return on investment, particularly given the above-average debt load. Programs like Lee College and Kilgore show significantly stronger outcomes in the same field across Texas.