Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Laurel Business Institute

At $43,988 first-year earnings, Laurel Business Institute's electrical engineering technology program lands squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's options but significantly trails the national picture. While earnings sit near the state median—placing in the 40th percentile among Pennsylvania schools—they lag the national median by nearly $11,000. That's a substantial gap for students considering whether to stay local or pursue alternatives elsewhere. The manageable $15,245 debt load (with a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio) keeps this from being a financial disaster, but it doesn't compensate for the earnings shortfall.

The real concern here is what these numbers suggest about the program's industry connections and curriculum depth. Pittsburgh Technical College graduates, just an hour away, earn $7,000 more annually with comparable training time. For a family weighing options in western Pennsylvania, that difference compounds quickly—potentially $35,000+ over five years before any wage growth.

This program works for students who need the accessibility Laurel provides (86% admission rate, serving nearly half Pell-eligible students) and plan to stay in the Uniontown area where living costs are lower. But families should understand they're accepting below-average earnings for the field. If your child can access Pittsburgh Technical or similar programs without dramatically increasing costs, the higher initial earnings justify the effort.