Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Red Rocks Community College

The electrical trades offer solid, stable work, and comparable programs nationwide suggest Red Rocks' associate degree positions graduates to enter at around $45,000 annually—a respectable starting point for a two-year credential. With estimated debt near $12,000, graduates would face monthly payments around $135, leaving most of that first-year income available for living expenses and savings. That 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold where debt equals a full year's pay.

What's harder to assess here is how Red Rocks specifically prepares students compared to Colorado's two other programs in this field. Neither of those schools has reported data either, which means families are choosing between three programs without concrete outcomes to compare. Nationally, the top quarter of similar programs produce first-year earnings above $55,000, suggesting meaningful variation in program quality and regional job markets. Colorado's strong construction and energy sectors could push local outcomes higher than the national average—or Red Rocks could simply be training for steady but unremarkable entry-level positions.

The fundamentals look sound: manageable debt for work that doesn't require a bachelor's degree. But without knowing whether Red Rocks' graduates actually match these peer-program estimates, you're banking on the program's reputation and your own research into local employer connections. Visit the campus, talk to instructors about job placement rates, and confirm they have relationships with utilities and contractors who actually hire their graduates.