Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians at Lincoln Technical Institute-Union

Lincoln Technical Institute-Union's Environmental Control Technologies program delivers solid earnings outcomes that justify its slightly higher debt load. With graduates earning $40,778 in their first year—placing them in the 75th percentile nationally—this program significantly outperforms the national median of $36,015. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 is excellent, well below the concerning 1.0 threshold, and the $14,553 in student debt ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt.

Within New Jersey, this program performs respectably, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's nine Environmental Control Technologies programs. The earnings exactly match the state median, and Lincoln's other New Jersey locations show mixed results—the Mahwah campus matches these earnings while Iselin lags behind at $34,220. The 18% earnings growth from year one to year four demonstrates clear career progression potential in this field.

For families concerned about return on investment, this program offers a compelling value proposition. The combination of above-average starting salaries, manageable debt levels, and strong earnings growth creates a relatively low-risk path into environmental technology careers. With over half of students receiving Pell grants, the program serves working-class families well while delivering middle-class earning potential.