Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at Ross Medical Education Center-Warren

At $22,518 in first-year earnings, this program lands in the bottom fifth nationally for vet tech training, though it sits right at the median among Michigan's seven programs. The more troubling pattern emerges in year four, when earnings slip to $21,736—essentially treading water while graduates elsewhere in the field typically see modest gains. That puts this squarely below the $25,600 national median and the $23,500 Michigan benchmark.

The debt load of $7,942 offers one bright spot, creating a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates should be able to handle. However, that's offset by the stagnant wage trajectory and the reality that these starting salaries barely exceed minimum wage in many retail positions. The 85% Pell Grant rate signals this program serves predominantly low-income students, making the modest returns particularly concerning for families who can least afford to invest time and money without seeing meaningful income improvement.

For parents considering this path, understand that vet tech work is often driven more by passion than paycheck. If your child is committed to animal care, this program won't bury them in debt—but they should expect to supplement income through second jobs or seek advancement opportunities quickly. Alternative paths like community college programs or direct entry into veterinary offices for on-the-job training might deliver similar outcomes at lower cost.