Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians at Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis

Lincoln College of Technology delivers exceptional value in environmental control technologies, ranking in the 75th percentile nationally for earnings while maintaining remarkably low debt levels. With graduates earning $40,778 in their first year—well above the national median of $36,015—and debt of just $14,553, this program offers one of the best debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.36 means students typically owe less than four months of their starting salary, which is excellent for any technical program.

The earnings trajectory is particularly encouraging, with graduates seeing solid 18% growth to $48,053 by year four. While this program ranks at the 60th percentile within Indiana (though with only two schools offering it statewide), the national comparison is what matters most—and nationally, this program performs in the top quartile. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates gives confidence in these numbers.

**Bottom line:** This is a strong investment for students interested in environmental technology careers. The combination of above-average starting salaries, minimal debt burden, and steady earning growth makes this program financially sound, especially given that 64% of students receive Pell grants, indicating it serves working-class families well.