Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Pima Community College

This technical program carries estimated debt of $12,000—roughly $3,000 below what similar electrical maintenance programs typically report—while projected first-year earnings of $45,000 suggest a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio. That's solid footing for an associate degree in the trades, where hands-on credentials can lead to steady employment in industrial facilities, utilities, or commercial building maintenance.

The catch: both figures come from peer programs nationally since Pima's graduate cohort was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. With only three schools in Arizona offering this credential, the program appears to serve a narrow slice of students preparing for specialized technical roles. The national median earnings sit right at that $45,000 mark, though top-performing programs reach $54,000—suggesting your child's actual trajectory will depend heavily on local job market connections and whether they pursue additional certifications in areas like HVAC, industrial controls, or renewable energy systems.

The estimated debt burden wouldn't take years to overcome, but you're making this decision somewhat blind. Before committing, talk directly with Pima's program coordinator about recent graduate placement rates and which Tucson-area employers actively recruit from the program. In technical fields like this, employer relationships and hands-on training quality matter more than the paper credentials.