Ground Transportation at Perry Technical Institute

At $6,650 in estimated debt against first-year earnings around $41,000, this certificate appears to deliver the kind of straightforward value proposition that trade programs are meant to provide. That 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly two months of their first year's salary—represents manageable borrowing by any reasonable standard. For context, similar ground transportation programs nationally carry median debt of $7,700, so this estimate tracks within typical ranges.

The earnings picture is harder to pin down with confidence. The $41,000 figure comes from national benchmarks since Perry Tech's own graduate outcomes aren't published due to small sample sizes. What we do know is that Washington state programs in this field typically produce lower earnings—around $36,800 according to state medians—which suggests the national figure may be optimistic for local job markets. That said, ground transportation is one of those fields where earnings depend heavily on specific roles (bus drivers versus commercial trucking, for instance) and whether graduates pursue additional endorsements or certifications.

The real question for families is whether this certificate leads to the transportation career their student wants, given the uncertainty around local salary expectations. The debt burden looks light enough that even if earnings land closer to the state's lower median, graduates should manage repayment without serious strain. Just understand you're banking on career outcomes that can't yet be verified for this specific program.