Ground Transportation at Jefferson Community and Technical College
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
jefferson.kctcs.eduAnalysis
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 suggests manageable student loans, but the estimated $41,414 first-year salary sits below what similar ground transportation programs in Kentucky typically deliver. At Hazard Community and Technical College, for instance, graduates earn around $43,818โabout $2,400 more annually. Given that the median debt for Kentucky programs in this field is $7,473, the estimated $9,280 here is notably higher, which makes the financial picture less competitive than it could be.
The national landscape for ground transportation certificates is fairly consistent, with most programs producing similar outcomes around $41,000. What matters more here is the local comparison: when peer programs in your own state are delivering both higher earnings and lower debt, that gap compounds over time. An extra $2,400 per year with $1,800 less debt creates meaningful breathing room in those critical early working years.
Because these figures are estimates drawn from similar programs rather than Jefferson's actual graduate outcomes, consider reaching out to the school directly for placement rates and typical employer partnerships. For a certificate program, where you enter the workforce quickly, knowing which companies recruit from this specific campus matters as much as the numbers themselves.
Where Jefferson Community and Technical College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all ground transportation certificate's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky
Ground Transportation certificate's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (13 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $4,706 | $41,414* | โ | $9,280* | โ | |
| $4,656 | $43,818* | โ | $7,473* | 0.17 | |
| National Median | โ | $41,414* | โ | $7,706* | 0.19 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with ground transportation graduates
Locomotive Engineers
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Pile Driver Operators
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Logging Equipment Operators
Bus Drivers, School
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
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 Jefferson Community and Technical College, approximately 29% 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 94 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.