Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at National Career Institute

National Career Institute's electrical certificate delivers troubling outcomes that rank among the worst in the country. While graduates owe relatively modest debt of $6,756, they're earning just $22,597 a year later—40% below New Jersey's median for this program and in the bottom 5% nationally. Even among the state's 11 electrical training programs, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs produce better results.

The comparison to nearby alternatives is stark. Pennco Tech graduates earn $33,390, while Lincoln Tech's multiple New Jersey locations all cluster around $32,000—roughly $10,000 more annually than National Career Institute students. With virtually no earnings growth over four years (just $196), graduates remain stuck well below living wages in the expensive New York metro area. The 62% Pell Grant rate suggests this program serves students who can least afford disappointing returns.

For electrical trades training in New Jersey, this program represents poor value. Parents should look at Lincoln Technical Institute or Pennco Tech instead, where graduates earn 40-50% more right from the start. In a field where earnings typically exceed $38,000 nationally after certificate programs, settling for $22,000 with no growth trajectory puts your child at a significant competitive disadvantage in an already challenging market.