Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians at Sullivan University

Sullivan University's Environmental Control Technologies certificate produces graduates earning $45K right after completion—roughly $9,000 above the national median for this field. That 92nd percentile national ranking suggests strong placement or industry connections, though Kentucky's limited landscape (only 4 programs statewide) makes the 60th percentile state ranking less meaningful for comparison.

The $9,500 in debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21, which is manageable territory. A graduate could reasonably pay this off within a year or two of working in the field. The certificate format likely keeps costs and time commitment lower than associate degree alternatives, getting students into the workforce faster without the debt burden of longer programs.

The major asterisk here: fewer than 30 graduates make up this data. In a cohort that small, a few well-placed graduates can skew the numbers significantly. This could represent either consistently strong outcomes or a lucky year. For families evaluating this program, the low debt makes it a reasonable bet even with the data uncertainty—you're not risking much financially, and the field's technical nature typically offers steady employment in water treatment, air quality monitoring, or environmental compliance roles.