Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at James A. Rhodes State College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 suggests solid financial footing for this industrial production program—peer institutions nationally show graduates earning around $57,000 in their first year against roughly $12,000 in debt. That's manageable by any standard, with debt representing just over two months of estimated gross income. The field itself appears stable: with nearly 400 schools offering this credential nationwide, there's clearly employer demand for these skills, and manufacturing remains a significant sector in Ohio's economy.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Both the earnings and debt figures come from comparable programs elsewhere, not from Rhodes State's actual graduates in this field. The national median debt of $13,500 provides some grounding—Rhodes State's estimate sits slightly below that—but without reported outcomes from any of Ohio's 25 programs offering this degree, you're making decisions in a data vacuum. Manufacturing technician roles can vary significantly in compensation based on the specific industry and employer, so local employment patterns around Lima matter more than national averages might suggest.

For parents, the key question is whether your child has tangible connections to manufacturing employers in the region. If Rhodes State has strong relationships with local plants and a track record of graduate placement, those informal indicators may matter more than these estimated figures. The math looks reasonable on paper, but verify the school's actual job placement outcomes before committing.