Plumbing at New England Institute of Technology

New England Institute of Technology's plumbing program presents a puzzling contrast: while it ranks in the 60th percentile among Rhode Island plumbing programs, it sits in just the 5th percentile nationally. The explanation? It's the only plumbing program in Rhode Island reporting data, so comparing it to the state median is meaningless—you're comparing the program to itself. The national picture tells the real story: graduates here earn $40,744 in their first year, roughly $20,000 less than the national median of $61,468 for associate's-level plumbing programs.

The debt load of $19,000 is actually higher than the national median of $13,214, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 remains manageable. Graduates do see meaningful income growth—jumping to $50,400 by year four represents 24% growth—but they're still earning about $11,000 less than what typical plumbing graduates make nationally right out of school. Given that plumbing is a trade where starting salaries matter significantly and where location shouldn't drastically limit earning potential, these numbers raise questions about whether the program adequately prepares graduates for the field.

For a Rhode Island family, the choice is stark: attend this program or look out of state. The lower-than-typical starting salary suggests exploring plumbing programs in neighboring Massachusetts or Connecticut, where graduates might enter the trade with better immediate earning potential and similar access to the New England job market.