Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Pearl River Community College

Pearl River's electrical engineering technology program sits at the 60th percentile among Mississippi's associate-level offerings—decent relative positioning in-state, but that's misleading context for families to rely on. The real concern is that graduates earn $39,929 in their first year, landing this program in just the 5th percentile nationally. That's nearly $15,000 below what electrical engineering technicians typically earn coming out of similar programs across the country. While the $10,625 in median debt is manageable and below the national average for this field, the earnings gap is substantial enough that it overshadows that advantage.

The modest 4% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests graduates are entering stable but relatively low-paying positions within the field. For context, the national median for this credential is $54,852—meaning Pearl River graduates are earning roughly 73 cents on the dollar compared to peers from other programs. This isn't a matter of Mississippi's cost of living making up the difference; it's a meaningful earnings disadvantage that compounds over a career.

For Mississippi families looking at in-state options and manageable debt, this program won't burden students financially. But parents should understand their child will likely start near $40,000 annually in a field where $55,000 is standard elsewhere—a gap that limited debt savings don't fully offset.