Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs

Pima Medical Institute's veterinary technology program produces graduates who earn slightly above the national median but fall behind most Colorado competitors. While the $36,090 starting salary matches national averages exactly, it trails the state median by nearly $400 and ranks in just the 40th percentile among Colorado's nine vet tech programs. More concerning, graduates see minimal income growth over four years—just 2%—suggesting limited advancement opportunities in this field.

The program's strongest selling point is its exceptionally low debt burden. At $21,151, student debt sits in the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with more debt. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, well below concerning thresholds. However, Colorado competitors like Bel-Rea Institute ($38,899) and Community College of Denver ($38,655) deliver significantly higher earnings that could justify their potentially higher costs.

For families prioritizing debt minimization, this program offers a relatively safe path into veterinary technology with modest but stable earnings. However, if your child is set on this career in Colorado, investigating the higher-earning programs first makes sense—the extra $2,800 annually from Bel-Rea could offset additional debt over time. The field appears to plateau early, so starting salary matters more than in careers with steep growth curves.