Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Indian Hills Community College

Indian Hills' electrical engineering technology program comes with an important caveat: the small graduating class means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. That said, the snapshot is encouraging. Graduates start at $68,590—nearly $14,000 above the national median and $8,000 above Iowa's typical outcome for this field. The debt load of $10,669 is notably lower than both Iowa's $18,000 average and the national $14,700 figure, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that most families would consider comfortable.

The earnings decline to $62,000 by year four deserves attention, though it's worth noting graduates still earn more than many programs produce at their peak. This pattern might reflect the regional job market or industry dynamics rather than program quality—after all, these graduates rank in the 95th percentile nationally and solidly above the state median at the 60th percentile among Iowa programs.

For families in southern Iowa looking at affordable technical training, the value proposition here looks strong based on available data. Just remember that with small cohorts, your child's actual experience could vary more than it would at a larger program. The combination of strong starting earnings and manageable debt suggests graduates are gaining marketable skills, but you'd be wise to talk with recent alumni about job placement specifics in the region where your family plans to work.