Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians at New England Institute of Technology

New England Institute of Technology is Rhode Island's only option for this specialized bachelor's degree, but the program's fundamentals look reasonable despite limited data. Graduates start at $50,342—essentially matching the national median—while carrying $32,834 in debt. That 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers face manageable monthly payments relative to their income, though they're taking on about $9,500 more debt than typical programs nationwide.

The real story here is accessibility: with a 73% admission rate and 44% of students on Pell grants, this program serves students who might not access traditional engineering pathways. The debt level is higher than ideal, but it's not catastrophic—graduates should be able to handle payments while building careers in architectural design, construction documentation, or building systems. The national earnings distribution shows some programs reach $69,000+, suggesting growth potential depends heavily on landing the right position and continuing education.

The major caveat is sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. For Rhode Island families who need a local, hands-on technical program, this could work—but anyone considering significant borrowing should confirm current job placement rates and talk to recent graduates about their actual earning trajectories in today's market.