Ground Transportation at Kaskaskia College

A debt load of roughly $5,500 for a ground transportation certificate is manageable, but the earnings picture based on comparable Illinois programs—around $36,200 in the first year—falls short of what's possible elsewhere. The national median for this credential sits at $41,400, and several Illinois community colleges report significantly higher outcomes: Elgin Community College graduates earn over $51,900, and Lincoln Land shows nearly $49,100. That's a difference of $15,000 or more annually compared to what peer programs in the state typically produce.

The 0.15 debt-to-earnings ratio looks favorable on paper, suggesting graduates could theoretically pay off their debt in less than two months of gross income. But that calculation matters less if the starting salary leaves little room for savings after basic expenses. Ground transportation careers—trucking, logistics coordination, transit operations—can offer stable employment, yet the gap between Kaskaskia's estimated outcomes and top-performing programs in Illinois is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration of alternatives.

Given that these figures are estimates based on similar programs rather than Kaskaskia's actual graduate outcomes, you're essentially betting on where this program falls within the state's range. If proximity or scheduling makes Kaskaskia the only realistic option, the low debt keeps risk contained. But if Elgin or Lincoln Land are accessible, their track records suggest meaningfully better earnings potential for the same credential.