Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Long Beach City College

Starting an electrical engineering technician program at a community college typically means manageable debt, and that appears to hold true here. Based on national data from similar certificate programs, graduates face roughly $9,400 in debt against first-year earnings near $39,000. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24—well within reasonable territory for a technical credential that can lead to stable work in manufacturing, utilities, or construction.

The challenge is understanding what Long Beach City College specifically delivers. The earnings figure comes from national medians because this program's graduate cohort is too small to report individually. California has 14 schools offering this certificate, but none have published outcomes data, making it difficult to know whether the state's higher cost of living translates into better pay for technicians. Nationally, the top-performing programs produce first-year earnings around $57,000, suggesting significant variation in outcomes depending on local industry connections and curriculum rigor.

For a parent weighing this investment, the fundamentals look sound: low debt, immediate workforce entry, and skills that won't disappear. But you're betting on an unknown. Talk to the program directly about job placement rates, which employers hire their graduates, and whether students typically transfer to four-year engineering programs. Those answers matter more than these estimated numbers can tell you.