Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Maysville Community and Technical College

Maysville's industrial equipment maintenance program raises questions that parents should carefully weigh. The $8,248 in typical debt is impressively low—among the lowest in the nation for this field—but the first-year earnings of $53,655 trail both Kentucky's state median ($59,798) and the national average ($55,532). That $6,000 gap versus other Kentucky programs translates to real money over time, especially when nearby schools like Gateway and Elizabethtown are producing graduates earning $13,000+ more right out of the gate.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.15 looks solid on paper, and graduates can theoretically clear their loans quickly. But ranking in just the 40th percentile among Kentucky's equipment maintenance programs suggests you're not getting the strongest preparation or industry connections here. With 13 programs across Kentucky, your child has options that deliver both low debt AND stronger earning potential. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—these numbers could swing significantly year to year.

For a rural student who needs to stay local and can't relocate for school, Maysville offers an affordable path into skilled trades. But if your child can commute to Lexington (Bluegrass CTC) or Louisville (Jefferson CTC), you're likely looking at $5,000-12,000 more in annual earnings for similar or only modestly higher debt. That difference compounds quickly in a career.