Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Sinclair Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,602

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$10,263

Est. from national median (8 programs)

Analysis

Is a technical certificate from a community college worth taking on debt? When peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $43,600 with typical debt near $10,300, the math looks reasonable—that's a debt load equal to just three months of income. For families considering Sinclair's Industrial Production Technologies program, this estimated 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio falls well within the range financial advisors consider manageable for a quick-turnaround credential.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With 410 programs nationally but only estimates available for Sinclair specifically, we can't verify whether Dayton's manufacturing sector delivers outcomes matching the national median, or whether local employers value this particular certificate enough to justify even moderate debt. Ohio has 27 similar programs, yet none report sufficient graduate data for direct comparison—suggesting these certificates either serve very small cohorts or feed into employment paths the Department of Education struggles to track.

The estimated numbers paint a workable picture: earnings that could cover this debt burden within a year or two of disciplined repayment. But families should treat these figures as directional rather than definitive. Before enrolling, confirm where recent graduates actually landed jobs and what they're earning—information the school itself should be able to provide even when federal data cannot.

Where Sinclair Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all industrial production technologies/technicians certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Sinclair Community CollegeDayton	$3,435	$43,602*	—	$10,263*	—
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids	$4,059	$70,622*	—	$11,500*	0.16
Ivy Tech Community CollegeIndianapolis	$4,912	$63,796*	$52,314	$10,245*	0.16
Antelope Valley Community College DistrictLancaster	$1,124	$63,060*	—	$10,280*	0.16
Texas State Technical CollegeWaco	$7,192	$54,068*	—	$9,500*	0.18
Metropolitan Community College-Kansas CityKansas City	$3,630	$53,967*	—	$9,089*	0.17
National Median	—	$43,602*	—	$10,244*	0.23

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with industrial production technologies/technicians graduates

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply electrical and electronic theory and related knowledge, usually under the direction of engineering staff, to design, build, repair, adjust, and modify electrical components, circuitry, controls, and machinery for subsequent evaluation and use by engineering staff in making engineering design decisions.

$77,180/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May perform time and motion studies on worker operations in a variety of industries for purposes such as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians

Implement production processes and operate commercial-scale production equipment to produce, test, or modify materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition. Operate advanced microscopy equipment to manipulate nanoscale objects. Work under the supervision of nanoengineering staff.

$64,790/yrJobs growth:Associate's degree

Semiconductor Processing Technicians

Perform any or all of the following functions in the manufacture of electronic semiconductors: load semiconductor material into furnace; saw formed ingots into segments; load individual segment into crystal growing chamber and monitor controls; locate crystal axis in ingot using x-ray equipment and saw ingots into wafers; and clean, polish, and load wafers into series of special purpose furnaces, chemical baths, and equipment used to form circuitry and change conductive properties.

$51,180/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand-soldering, or brazing equipment to weld or join metal components or to fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products.

$51,000/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other

All engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, not listed separately.

Non-Destructive Testing Specialists

Test the safety of structures, vehicles, or vessels using x-ray, ultrasound, fiber optic or related equipment.

Photonics Technicians

Build, install, test, or maintain optical or fiber optic equipment, such as lasers, lenses, or mirrors, using spectrometers, interferometers, or related equipment.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Sinclair Community College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 13 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.