Construction Engineering Technologies at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology's Construction Engineering Technologies program lands in the middle of Pennsylvania's limited offerings (60th percentile statewide) but trails the national median by more than $11,000 annually. With only three schools offering this associate's degree in Pennsylvania, the state comparison provides limited context. More concerning: graduates earn less four years out ($40,651) than they did one year after graduation ($44,518), suggesting either career instability or a challenging transition period in the field.

The debt load tells a better story. At $16,095, it's manageable—you'd need just 36% of that first year's salary to cover the full balance, well below the concerning threshold. That's particularly relevant for a program serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (32% of the college). However, the small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of career choices or economic conditions could skew these numbers significantly either direction.

For parents evaluating this program, the question is whether a below-average starting salary paired with backwards earnings growth justifies even moderate debt. If your child has specific ties to the construction industry in Pennsylvania—family connections, guaranteed employment, or a passion for hands-on technical work—the low debt load provides room to take that chance. Otherwise, the earnings trajectory suggests looking at programs where graduates build momentum rather than lose it.