Architectural Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates this architectural technology program with notably high debt compared to national peers—$27,000 versus the typical $18,500—yet their first-year earnings of $41,418 fall slightly below both state and national benchmarks. That debt level places this program in the 95th percentile nationally, meaning graduates carry more debt than 95% of similar programs across the country.

The concerning part isn't just the debt amount, but what graduates are getting for it. At 40th percentile for earnings both statewide and nationally, students here are paying premium prices for below-average outcomes. Nearby Thaddeus Stevens College produces graduates earning $43,244—about $1,800 more annually—likely with less debt burden. The 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but it means new graduates will be dedicating a meaningful chunk of early career earnings to loan payments.

An important caveat: with fewer than 30 recent graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly year to year. Still, the pattern of above-average debt for below-average earnings should make parents ask hard questions about cost. For Pennsylvania families considering architectural technology programs, this appears to be the most expensive path to middling outcomes in a state with limited alternatives.