Construction Engineering Technologies at San Jacinto Community College

With peer programs nationally producing first-year earnings around $56,000 against estimated debt of $12,600, this Construction Engineering Technologies associate's suggests a manageable entry into the field. That 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio means you'd owe roughly three months of salary—a financing picture that many trades and technical programs would envy.

The significant question mark here is location. While comparable programs nationally cluster around that $56K figure, the one Texas school with reported data shows $38,700—a substantial gap that could reflect regional market differences or program variations. Construction engineering techs in Texas might face a different earnings landscape than the national average suggests, though Houston's active construction market could work in San Jacinto graduates' favor compared to other parts of the state.

The debt load appears reasonable regardless of which earnings figure proves accurate. Even at the lower Texas benchmark, you'd still have a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.32. For a program serving a 30% Pell-eligible population and leading to hands-on construction management roles, that's workable. The real due diligence here is understanding what local employers actually pay graduates in this specific credential—talk to the school's career services about recent placements and starting salaries in the Houston metro area before assuming the higher national figures apply.