Ground Transportation at Navajo Technical University
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
navajotech.eduAnalysis
A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 suggests reasonable affordability—based on comparable certificate programs nationwide, graduates would owe roughly 22 cents for every dollar earned in their first year. With estimated first-year earnings around $41,400 and estimated debt of $9,280, this positions the program near the middle of what similar ground transportation certificates produce nationally. The debt load sits slightly above the national median for these programs ($7,706), but remains manageable given the earning potential.
The challenge here is context. New Mexico has seven schools offering ground transportation programs, but none report granular outcome data, making it difficult to assess how Navajo Technical University specifically performs relative to local alternatives. The national figures suggest these certificates generally lead to steady employment in logistics, trucking, or transit operations—fields with consistent demand but limited wage growth beyond entry level. For a certificate program that can typically be completed in under a year, the estimated numbers point to a viable path into the workforce without crushing debt.
For parents weighing this investment, the key question is whether your student has confirmed local job opportunities in transportation and logistics. The estimated outcomes suggest this could work financially, but you'll want to verify directly with the school about job placement rates and regional employer connections—especially given that estimated data can't tell you how this specific program's graduates actually fare in New Mexico's job market.
Where Navajo Technical University Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all ground transportation certificate's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Ground Transportation certificate's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $4,250 | $41,414* | — | $9,280* | — | |
| $2,328 | $74,114* | $60,000 | $5,775* | 0.08 | |
| $4,916 | $67,999* | $49,577 | $8,250* | 0.12 | |
| $6,209 | $64,164* | $59,690 | $10,846* | 0.17 | |
| $4,842 | $59,330* | — | $11,000* | 0.19 | |
| $4,320 | $53,495* | $47,311 | $4,750* | 0.09 | |
| National Median | — | $41,414* | — | $7,706* | 0.19 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with ground transportation graduates
Locomotive Engineers
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
Pile Driver Operators
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Logging Equipment Operators
Bus Drivers, School
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity
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 Navajo Technical University, approximately 49% 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 94 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.