Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Southeast Arkansas College

Based on peer programs nationally, this industrial production technology associate's degree would carry roughly $12,000 in debt against projected first-year earnings around $57,000—a 0.21 debt ratio that's quite manageable. What makes this picture more complicated is Arkansas itself: other production technology programs in the state show a median salary of $65,000, with one community college reporting graduates earning $97,000. That wide range suggests local industry connections and specific training emphasis matter enormously in this field.

The estimated debt figure actually looks favorable compared to what similar programs typically cost nationally ($13,500 median), and a debt load you could theoretically pay off in three to four months of gross earnings is hard to criticize. The real uncertainty lies in whether Southeast Arkansas College's program leads to the lower end of the state's outcomes (around $33,000 at one comparable school) or something closer to the $65,000 state median.

For families in Pine Bluff—where 63% of students receive Pell grants—the practical question is whether local employers value this credential enough to justify even modest debt. Before committing, you'd want to understand where Southeast's graduates actually work and what those jobs pay. The debt looks safe on paper, but the earnings projection is essentially a national average applied to a state with wildly varying outcomes.