Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Pittsburg State University

A $12,000 debt load for an associate's degree stands out as manageable—peer programs nationwide typically saddle graduates with about $15,000. That $3,000 difference matters when you're entering a skilled trades field where first-year earnings, based on comparable programs, sit around $45,300. The 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in just over three months of gross pay, giving this program a solid financial foundation even though we're working with estimates rather than Pittsburg State's actual outcomes.

The bigger question is trajectory. Electrical maintenance programs can lead to stable industrial or facilities careers, but first-year earnings in the mid-$40s aren't spectacular—the national benchmark shows some programs reaching $53,600 at the 75th percentile. Kansas has six schools offering this degree, yet none report enough graduate data for direct comparison, which suggests these are small programs with limited cohorts. For students certain about hands-on technical work, the reasonable debt makes this viable. But if your child is uncertain or could pursue a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a similar field with higher earning potential, the associate's path might cap their upside too soon. The low debt makes it a recoverable choice either way.