Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at New River Community and Technical College

New River Community and Technical College's electrical installation program punches well above its weight class. Graduates earn $50,399 within their first year—outperforming 81% of similar programs nationwide and landing 30% above the national median of $38,716. In West Virginia's market, this places in the 60th percentile, which reflects the program's solid positioning in a state where electrical work pays relatively well. The $5,500 in typical debt represents just 2.5 months of first-year earnings, an exceptionally manageable burden that puts this program in the top tier for affordability.

The value proposition here is straightforward: you're paying community college tuition for earnings that approach what many four-year degrees deliver, without the corresponding debt load. With 45% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves as an economic mobility engine for working-class West Virginians. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.11 means students can realistically pay off loans quickly while building careers in a field with stable demand.

For parents weighing a certificate program against a traditional bachelor's degree, this represents exactly what skilled trades education should look like—quick entry into solid-paying work without derailing your child's finances. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes across multiple graduating cohorts, adding confidence to the numbers.