Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Shawnee State University

Computer engineering technology programs nationally produce first-year earnings around $49,000, and this Shawnee State program appears to track with that benchmark. The estimated debt load of $25,000 is notably lower than both the $31,000 national median and the $55,000 typical for Ohio programs—putting graduates in a stronger position with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. That means roughly half a year's salary to cover educational debt, which is manageable territory for a technical field.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimated figures derived from peer programs, since Shawnee State's graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. This makes it harder to assess whether this specific program delivers the same value as comparable ones. The relatively low debt estimate is encouraging, but without knowing how this program's graduates actually fare in the job market—or whether they're finding work in their field at all—parents are taking on more uncertainty than they would with a program that has published outcomes.

For families considering this path, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but the lack of reported data means you're betting on Shawnee State's program performing like its peers. If your student has concrete job prospects or internship connections in southern Ohio's tech sector, that reduces risk. Otherwise, look closely at whether programs with published outcomes—even if slightly more expensive—might offer more certainty about returns.