Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Renton Technical College

The estimated $12,000 debt load positions this program well below both state and national benchmarks for electronics maintenance programs—Washington schools typically see graduates leaving with around $16,600, and the national median sits near $15,000. Combined with first-year earnings projections around $45,300 based on comparable programs nationwide, that creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, suggesting graduates would need to allocate roughly a quarter of their first year's income to eliminate the debt. That's a manageable burden for a technical credential that leads directly to skilled trades work.

The earnings picture is harder to pin down with certainty since both debt and income figures here are drawn from peer programs rather than Renton Tech's actual graduate outcomes. The state's only program with reported data—Perry Technical Institute—shows first-year earnings of $45,720, closely aligning with these estimates. Still, electronics maintenance roles can vary significantly in compensation depending on the specific sector and employer, so where your child lands their first job matters considerably.

What tips the scales favorably is the lower debt exposure. Even if earnings come in on the conservative end of the spectrum, starting your career with $12,000 rather than $16,000-plus in loans provides meaningful breathing room while establishing yourself in the field. For families concerned about educational debt, this program's estimated cost structure offers a clearer path to positive returns than many alternatives.