Ground Transportation at Pima Community College

The transportation sector in Arizona shows fairly stable earnings potential, though peer programs suggest modest first-year returns around $41,400—just above the state median of $36,576 for this field. What makes this certificate challenging to assess is that both the earnings and debt figures are estimates drawn from comparable programs nationally, since Pima's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes. The estimated debt of $9,280 sits above the national median for ground transportation programs, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 remains manageable if the estimates hold true.

The four-year earnings figure of $42,657 provides one actual data point, suggesting relatively flat earnings growth in this field. That stability could work in a graduate's favor for budgeting purposes, but it also means there's limited upward trajectory without additional credentials or experience. For families weighing this investment, the question becomes whether the estimated debt load is justified for what comparable programs deliver—particularly when similar Arizona programs report outcomes in the mid-$30,000s.

Given the uncertainty in the data, I'd want to know what specific certifications this program provides and whether local trucking companies have direct hiring relationships with Pima. If your child has verified job prospects lined up, the debt burden is reasonable enough. Without that certainty, you're banking on estimates that may or may not reflect this program's actual track record.