Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Southeast Community College Area

At $56,906 in starting salary, Southeast Community College's electrical engineering technology program gets graduates quickly to solid earnings with remarkably little debt—just $11,000, about 25% below the national median. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in less than three months of gross earnings. Among Nebraska's limited pool of electrical engineering technology programs, this sits right at the state median for both earnings and debt, but there are only three programs total to compare against.

The bigger picture looks strong: these graduates earn above the national median from day one, landing in the 66th percentile nationally. Four years out, median earnings climb to $61,680—an 8% increase that may not be dramatic but suggests stable career progression in technical roles. With such low debt loads, even modest salary growth translates to real financial security.

For families in Nebraska looking at two-year technical programs, this delivers exactly what it should: immediate employment at wages that support independent living, with debt that won't constrain life choices. The math here is straightforward enough that parents can feel confident this is money well spent, particularly for students drawn to hands-on electrical work over four-year engineering theory.