Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Pierpont Community and Technical College

Six-figure earnings from a two-year degree put Pierpont's electrical power program in an entirely different league than the typical associate's in this field. Nationally, programs like this produce median first-year earnings around $45,000—graduates here are earning more than double that. While the $12,000 debt figure comes from the school's other associate's programs rather than this specific one, similar programs nationally carry comparable debt loads, making this an exceptionally strong financial picture if the earnings hold true for Pierpont graduates specifically.

The caveat matters here: West Virginia only has two schools reporting outcomes in electrical power transmission, and the state median exactly matches Pierpont's first-year figure, suggesting these numbers might reflect regional industry wages more than program-specific outcomes. Still, that $125,000 fourth-year earning figure—if it tracks with actual graduate experience—represents serious earning potential. A debt-to-earnings ratio around 0.12 would mean graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about six weeks of gross income.

The unknowns are real. With too few graduates to report independently, we can't confirm whether Pierpont's specific students actually achieve these outcomes or if placement rates justify the investment. But if your child can secure one of the positions this program targets, the financial return appears substantial. Press the school hard on job placement specifics and where recent graduates actually landed.