Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications at Lakeshore Technical College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a concerning story: Lakeshore Technical College's networking program places graduates about $4,000 below both state and national medians, while other Wisconsin technical colleges are launching students into significantly higher earnings. Madison Area Technical College graduates earn $65,324 within a year—over 60% more than Lakeshore's $40,086. Even nearby Chippewa Valley and Western Technical colleges show graduates earning $47,000-$45,000, suggesting Lakeshore's results aren't simply reflecting regional wage differences.

The one bright spot is debt: at $12,722, it's roughly half what students typically borrow for this program in Wisconsin. That low debt load keeps the financial burden manageable despite the modest earnings, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 that won't cripple a graduate's budget. However, graduating with less debt doesn't compensate for earning $7,000 less annually than peers at Western Technical or nearly $25,000 less than Madison Area graduates. Over a career, those wage gaps compound into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

For Wisconsin families, the data suggests looking closely at other technical colleges in the state system. Unless geographic constraints make Lakeshore the only viable option, parents should investigate why its outcomes lag behind similar programs elsewhere in Wisconsin—and whether those other programs might be worth the commute or relocation.