Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Southern Arkansas University Tech

Something's seriously wrong with outcomes here. Southern Arkansas University Tech graduates earn just $33,148 in their first year—less than half what the typical Arkansas industrial production tech graduate makes ($65,277). This isn't a minor gap; it's the difference between a viable technical career and barely-above-poverty wages. Even the state's best program at Arkansas Northeastern College produces earnings nearly triple what this program delivers.

The low debt of $7,350 keeps this from being an outright financial disaster, but that's cold comfort when you're earning $33,000 with technical credentials that should command far more. Ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally and 10th percentile within Arkansas signals fundamental problems with either the curriculum, employer connections, or the local job market. The 41% Pell grant rate suggests many students here are seeking economic mobility—which these outcomes simply don't provide.

If your child is considering this program, you need to understand why graduates earn so much less than peers at other Arkansas schools. Is Camden's local economy unable to support these jobs? Are graduates leaving the field? Without clear answers showing how your student would beat these odds, you're better off exploring programs at other Arkansas technical colleges where the same degree reliably leads to $60,000+ starting salaries.