Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Paris Junior College

A $9,400 estimated debt load against first-year earnings near $39,000 creates a manageable 24% debt-to-earnings ratio, but here's the complication: Texas programs in this field typically produce far stronger outcomes. Similar electrical engineering technology programs across the state report median earnings around $60,000—more than 50% higher than what comparable national programs suggest for Paris Junior College graduates.

That gap matters financially. At $60,000, graduates could pay down this debt quickly and build savings. At $39,000, they're earning what the field pays nationally but missing out on Texas's premium wages for skilled trades work. Dallas College, operating just two hours south, shows what's achievable: their graduates enter the field at that higher $60,000 mark. Whether Paris Junior College's program doesn't connect graduates to the same employer networks, offers less hands-on training, or simply hasn't reported actual outcomes yet remains unclear since these figures are estimates based on peer institutions.

For families weighing this investment, the relatively low debt works in the program's favor—it's below both state and national medians. But graduating into the bottom half of the Texas earnings distribution for this credential suggests either choosing a different program in the state or having very modest salary expectations for the first few years. The debt won't be crushing, but the opportunity cost of missing Texas's higher-wage electrical work could add up over time.