Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Moraine Valley Community College

Comparable electrical/electronics maintenance programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $45,000—a solid starting point for an associate degree that could lead to work as an industrial maintenance technician or electronics repairer. With estimated debt of $12,000, well below the national median for this field, the financial foundation looks manageable. That 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would theoretically owe roughly three months' gross pay, making this one of the more affordable paths into skilled trades.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Because Moraine Valley's specific outcomes aren't reported (likely due to small graduating class sizes), these figures draw from broader national patterns rather than this program's actual track record. Illinois hosts eight programs in this field, but none have public outcomes data for comparison, making it difficult to assess whether Moraine Valley's curriculum, industry connections, or lab equipment match what employers in the Chicago area actually need. The 29% Pell grant rate suggests the college serves a mix of students, but without program-specific placement rates or employer partnerships, you're betting on national averages applying locally.

If your child has confirmed interest in hands-on technical work and can connect with recent graduates or local employers who hire from this program, the estimated debt load is low enough to justify the risk. But verify job placement outcomes directly with the department before committing—national medians don't guarantee what happens in suburban Chicago's industrial job market.