Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Lincoln Land Community College

Lincoln Land's electrical maintenance certificate shows an unusual earnings pattern that deserves careful interpretation—and a bit of caution about the small sample size. Graduates start strong at nearly $56,000, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally for this field. That's impressive compared to the typical $34,000 national median. However, earnings drop to $47,000 by year four, suggesting graduates may be landing higher-paying temporary positions or project work that doesn't sustain over time. At the state level, this program sits right at Illinois' median for electrical maintenance programs, so while it looks exceptional nationally, it's middle-of-the-pack locally.

The debt load of $6,363 is manageable—you'd owe just 11 cents for every dollar earned in that first year, well below concerning thresholds. Even with earnings declining to $47,000, debt service remains reasonable. The bigger question is whether that year-four earning pattern reflects industry realities (seasonal work, contract cycles) or something specific about how these graduates' careers develop.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this data, treat these numbers as a promising signal rather than a guarantee. If your student is mechanically inclined and wants a quick path to solid earnings without four-year tuition, this certificate could work—just understand you're betting on an initial earnings surge that historically hasn't lasted for this small cohort.