Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Northwest Iowa Community College

The earnings trajectory here tells an unusual story: graduates start slightly below the state median but see remarkable 54% income growth by year four, jumping from $44,875 to $69,137. That's the kind of earnings acceleration you'd expect from an apprenticeship-style program where skills compound rapidly on the job. Within four years, these graduates are out-earning the typical Iowa electrical maintenance program by more than $20,000 annually.

The debt picture makes this particularly attractive—at $12,000, it matches the Iowa median and sits well below the national average. With less than three months of first-year earnings needed to cover the full cost, the financial barrier to entry is minimal. The 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio reflects a program that delivers solid earning potential without excessive borrowing.

The major caveat: this data comes from a small graduating class, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. But the fundamentals look sound. If your child learns well in hands-on technical environments and you're seeking a two-year path to middle-class earnings, this program offers a clear value proposition—manageable debt leading to steadily increasing wages in a field with persistent demand.