Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at North Seattle College

This electrical maintenance program estimates first-year earnings around $45,300 and debt near $12,000—figures drawn from similar programs nationally since North Seattle College's graduate cohort was too small to report publicly. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 looks manageable on paper, suggesting you'd owe roughly a quarter of your first year's salary, which is well within the range most financial advisors consider reasonable for technical training.

The challenge is Seattle's cost of living. While similar programs across Washington show comparable earnings (Perry Technical Institute reports $45,720 for its graduates), housing and expenses in Seattle run significantly higher than most of the state. That $45,000 salary stretches differently here than it would in Spokane or Yakima. The relatively low Pell grant percentage—just 14% of students—might indicate this program serves students with more financial cushion, or it could simply reflect the overall student mix at this community college.

The small cohort size itself tells you something: this isn't a large program, which could mean more personalized instruction or fewer job placement resources, depending on how the college structures support. If your child is mechanically inclined and wants to stay in the Seattle area, the estimated debt load won't be crushing, but confirm what local electrical maintenance technicians actually earn in Seattle specifically—not statewide—before committing.