Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Jones County Junior College

Drawing on national patterns for electrical engineering technology programs, Jones County Junior College's associate degree appears positioned for solid returns, though actual outcomes for this specific campus remain unknown due to small graduate cohorts. Based on peer programs nationally, first-year earnings around $55,000 against roughly $12,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe about one dollar for every five they earn.

The challenge is Mississippi's context. Pearl River Community College, the only in-state program with reported data, shows graduates earning $40,000—nearly $15,000 below the national estimate. If Jones County follows this state pattern rather than the national one, the value proposition shifts considerably. A two-year degree yielding $40,000 isn't alarming with $12,000 in debt, but it's a more modest outcome than national figures suggest, especially when many technician roles don't require formal credentials at all.

For families where that $12,000 represents real sacrifice—and with 38% of students here receiving Pell grants, many face exactly that—the uncertainty matters. If your student has admission offers from multiple Mississippi programs, Pearl River's actual data point provides the only concrete baseline available. Otherwise, you're betting this program outperforms the one known state outcome by 37%, which is possible but speculative.