Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 is solid territory for a two-year technical degree, though it's worth noting both figures come from national peer programs rather than Lake Washington's actual graduates. Based on comparable electrical engineering technology programs nationwide, students typically finish with around $12,000 in debt and earn roughly $55,000 in their first year—numbers that suggest a relatively quick path to positive returns. Washington's tech-heavy economy, particularly around the Seattle metro area where Lake Washington sits, could mean better-than-typical opportunities for graduates, though we can't confirm that without school-specific data.

The real question is whether an associate's degree positions you competitively in a field where bachelor's degrees are increasingly common. Similar programs nationally produce first-year earnings at $55,000, which is respectable for a two-year credential but leaves room to wonder about advancement potential. The low Pell grant percentage (12%) suggests this program may attract students with more financial resources or those already employed who are upgrading skills—contexts where the degree serves different purposes than it would for a traditional student starting from scratch.

Without reported outcomes from this specific program or peer schools in Washington, you're making an educated bet based on national patterns. If your child is mechanically inclined, wants to enter the workforce quickly, and has connections or prospects in local manufacturing or utilities, the estimated debt load won't be burdensome. But verify job placement rates and whether local employers value Lake Washington's program specifically.