Location: Wausau, WI•In-State Tuition: $3,861•Out-of-State Tuition: $5,615
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,414
Est. from national median (94 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$8,354
Est. from WI median (3 programs)

Analysis

A debt load of around $8,400 for a professional certificate sets up a manageable financial start, with the debt-to-earnings ratio landing at a very reasonable 0.20. The challenge lies in the earnings projection itself: while the national estimate of $41,414 provides a baseline, Wisconsin's transportation sector tells a different story. Comparable programs across the state produce median earnings of $59,340—nearly $18,000 more than the national figure suggests. Programs at Fox Valley Tech and Waukesha County Tech are placing graduates into jobs paying $51,000 to $68,000, which indicates Wisconsin's transportation industry may offer stronger earning potential than the national estimate captures.

The gap between national and state figures matters significantly here. If Northcentral's graduates find positions in line with Wisconsin's stronger transportation market, this certificate could deliver solid returns quickly. At the state median, you'd be looking at debt representing just 14% of first-year earnings—exceptionally manageable. But if outcomes track closer to the national baseline, the financial picture becomes merely adequate rather than compelling.

Without this program's actual graduate outcomes, compare the certificate's curriculum and industry partnerships to those better-documented Wisconsin programs. Transportation careers in the state clearly pay well, but you'll want confidence that Northcentral's specific training connects to those higher-wage opportunities rather than lower-tier positions.

Where Northcentral Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all ground transportation certificate's programs nationally

Northcentral Technical College (estimated ±10%)Other ground transportation programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Ground Transportation certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (10 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau$3,861$41,414*—$8,354*—
Fox Valley Technical CollegeAppleton$4,916$67,999*$49,577$8,250*0.12
Waukesha County Technical CollegePewaukee$4,720$50,682*$53,957$8,653*0.17
National Median—$41,414*—$7,706*0.19
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with ground transportation graduates

Locomotive Engineers

Drive electric, diesel-electric, steam, or gas-turbine-electric locomotives to transport passengers or freight. Interpret train orders, electronic or manual signals, and railroad rules and regulations.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers

Drive switching or other locomotive or dinkey engines within railroad yard, industrial plant, quarry, construction project, or similar location.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

Operate or monitor railroad track switches or locomotive instruments. May couple or uncouple rolling stock to make up or break up trains. Watch for and relay traffic signals. May inspect couplings, air hoses, journal boxes, and hand brakes. May watch for dragging equipment or obstacles on rights-of-way.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters

Coordinate activities of switch-engine crew within railroad yard, industrial plant, or similar location. Conductors coordinate activities of train crew on passenger or freight trains. Yardmasters review train schedules and switching orders and coordinate activities of workers engaged in railroad traffic operations, such as the makeup or breakup of trains and yard switching.

$75,680/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education.

$62,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators

Operate equipment used for applying concrete, asphalt, or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or airport runways and taxiways or for tamping gravel, dirt, or other materials. Includes concrete and asphalt paving machine operators, form tampers, tamping machine operators, and stone spreader operators.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Pile Driver Operators

Operate pile drivers mounted on skids, barges, crawler treads, or locomotive cranes to drive pilings for retaining walls, bulkheads, and foundations of structures such as buildings, bridges, and piers.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

$58,320/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

$57,440/yrJobs growth:Postsecondary nondegree award

Logging Equipment Operators

Drive logging tractor or wheeled vehicle equipped with one or more accessories, such as bulldozer blade, frontal shear, grapple, logging arch, cable winches, hoisting rack, or crane boom, to fell tree; to skid, load, unload, or stack logs; or to pull stumps or clear brush. Includes operating stand-alone logging machines, such as log chippers.

$49,540/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Bus Drivers, School

Drive a school bus to transport students. Ensure adherence to safety rules. May assist students in boarding or exiting.

$48,370/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity

Drive bus or motor coach, including regular route operations, charters, and private carriage. May assist passengers with baggage. May collect fares or tickets.

$48,370/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Northcentral Technical College, approximately 17% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 94 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.