Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies at Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga

Miller-Motte's industrial equipment maintenance program produces earnings nearly $20,000 below the Tennessee median and almost $25,000 below the national average—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. Lincoln College of Technology's similar Nashville program graduates earn $60,052 their first year, demonstrating that significantly better outcomes are available within the state. Meanwhile, this program carries debt more than double the national median ($27,986 vs. $12,000), creating an immediate financial burden that's particularly concerning for the 85% of students here receiving Pell grants.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 means graduates face nearly $28,000 in debt against $36,000 in first-year earnings—a heavy load in a field where comparable programs typically produce much stronger financial starts. Industrial equipment maintenance should be a pathway to solid middle-class earnings, but this program's outcomes suggest something is significantly off, whether it's employer connections, training quality, or graduate job placement.

For a student interested in this field, Tennessee offers better alternatives. The $24,000 earnings gap compared to the state median represents real money—enough to cover that student debt and then some. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal circumstances that make Miller-Motte the only option, families should seriously consider programs with track records closer to industry standards.