Engineering Technology at Pasadena City College

Based on peer programs nationwide, this associate's degree in Engineering Technology appears financially sound, with estimated first-year earnings around $48,300 and debt near $13,800—yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. That means graduates from similar programs typically earn enough in their first year to cover nearly three-and-a-half times their student loan burden, a comfortable margin that suggests the credential pays for itself relatively quickly.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With 187 programs nationally offering this degree but insufficient graduate data from Pasadena City College itself to report outcomes, you're evaluating this program based on what happens at peer institutions rather than this school's track record. The estimated earnings align with the national median for Engineering Technology associate's degrees, which is reassuring—it suggests typical rather than exceptional outcomes. But without knowing how Pasadena's specific curriculum, industry connections, or local employer relationships compare to those benchmark programs, you're missing crucial context about whether *this* program delivers similar value.

For a relatively affordable community college credential that could lead to technician roles in California's robust engineering sector, the estimated numbers look reasonable. But push the school for concrete data: employment rates for recent graduates, which companies hire from their program, and whether students successfully transfer these credits to four-year institutions if that's your child's plan. The estimation isn't a red flag—it's common for smaller programs—but it does mean you'll need to do more legwork to verify the pathway actually works.