Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Pittsburg State University

Based on comparable industrial production programs nationwide, this associate's degree appears positioned to deliver solid returns. With estimated first-year earnings around $56,700 against roughly $12,000 in debt, graduates would face a debt burden equal to just 21% of their first year's income—manageable by any standard. The estimated debt figure also sits below the $13,500 national median for this field, suggesting Pittsburg State keeps costs relatively contained even for students at a four-year institution earning a two-year credential.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With nearly 400 schools offering this program nationally but too few Pittsburg State graduates to report outcomes, you're essentially betting that this university's version performs like the typical program elsewhere. That $56,700 estimate comes from the national median, which means half of similar programs do better and half do worse. In Kansas, where ten schools offer this credential but none have reportable data, there's limited visibility into how regional employment markets actually reward these skills.

For families considering this path, the fundamentals look promising—technical associate's degrees generally translate to steady work, and the debt-to-earnings math works. But acknowledge you're making decisions with imperfect information. If your student has specific career goals in industrial production, verify that local employers value this particular credential and that Pittsburg State maintains strong industry connections in your target region.