Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Lake Washington Institute of Technology

The estimated $11,417 in debt for this associate degree represents a manageable burden relative to expected first-year earnings around $54,260—a ratio that suggests graduates could reasonably handle loan payments while building their careers. Since federal data for Lake Washington's specific program is suppressed due to small graduate cohorts, these figures come from the national median of similar physical science technology programs. That's worth keeping in mind: you're looking at what peer programs typically produce, not what this particular school has delivered.

Washington has only four institutions offering this degree, making it a relatively specialized path in the state. The estimated earnings put graduates in solid technical job territory—not spectacular, but well above minimum wage work and aligned with what laboratory and field technician roles typically pay. The debt load is modest enough that even if actual outcomes vary from these estimates, the financial risk appears contained. Physical science technicians often work in quality control, environmental monitoring, or research support, fields where certification and hands-on training matter as much as the institution's name.

For parents, the key question is whether their student has clear employment prospects lined up. With such limited data available, talking to the program directly about job placement rates and employer connections becomes essential—these estimated figures suggest reasonable outcomes are possible, but you'll want concrete evidence that Lake Washington's specific program delivers them.