Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Mineral Area College
Associate's Degree
mineralarea.eduAnalysis
Peer programs suggest that Mineral Area College's electrical engineering technology associate's degree leads to first-year earnings around $54,852—somewhat stronger than Missouri's typical $50,931 for this field. The estimated debt load of $12,063 is modest, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 that would translate to manageable monthly payments even on an entry-level technician's salary. This is exactly the kind of technical credential where reasonable debt can make financial sense.
The challenge here is uncertainty. With both earnings and debt figures derived from similar programs rather than Mineral Area's actual graduate outcomes, parents are essentially betting that this school performs like the national average. That's not unreasonable—technical programs tend to be fairly standardized in curriculum and employer expectations—but it does mean you're working with less information than ideal. State Technical College of Missouri, the only Missouri program with reported data, shows slightly lower earnings at $50,931, suggesting the national benchmark might be optimistic for this state.
The math works if the estimates hold: paying off $12,000 on a $55,000 salary is feasible for most graduates. But given the data gaps, it's worth comparing this to other Missouri technical colleges where you can see actual graduate outcomes, particularly if they offer similar programs with verified placement rates in local industries.
Where Mineral Area College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all electrical engineering technologies/technicians associates's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Missouri
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians associates's programs at peer institutions in Missouri (7 total in state)
Scroll to see more →
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,180 | $54,852* | — | $12,063* | — | |
| $7,830 | $50,931* | $52,473 | $12,000* | 0.24 | |
| National Median | — | $54,852* | — | $14,710* | 0.27 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with electrical engineering technologies/technicians graduates
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians
Robotics Technicians
Electrical and Electronics Drafters
Calibration Technologists and Technicians
Sound Engineering Technicians
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other
Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
Photonics Technicians
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Mineral Area College, approximately 31% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 49 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.