Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at North Dakota State College of Science

North Dakota State College of Science's electrical engineering technology program ranks at the bottom among the state's four programs, with first-year earnings of $45,253 falling well below the North Dakota median of $67,356. That's a significant gap—nearly $22,000 less than what graduates from other in-state programs earn. The top program at Bismarck State College pays almost double in the first year. While earnings do grow 24% by year four, reaching $56,117, graduates are still earning considerably less than their state peers who started ahead and likely maintained that advantage.

The $11,000 debt load is manageable at just 0.24 times first-year earnings, and that's genuinely good news for families worried about borrowing. However, lower debt doesn't offset the earnings disadvantage when you're consistently making $20,000+ less annually than other North Dakota electrical technology graduates. Over a career, that earnings gap compounds into hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income.

For North Dakota families, this program is difficult to justify when other in-state options deliver substantially better outcomes. Unless location in Wahpeton is essential or the other three programs are at capacity, parents should strongly consider alternatives. The debt is reasonable, but you're investing in a program that underperforms the state market significantly—and in a technical field where employers typically pay based on credentials and skills that should be relatively consistent across programs.