Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians at Summit College

Summit College's environmental control program delivers one of the strongest debt-to-earnings ratios you'll find—just 0.20—meaning graduates owe less than three months of their first-year salary. With only $7,600 in debt and starting pay of $37,725, this program creates immediate financial breathing room. That starting salary edges above the national median and climbs solidly to $47,723 by year four, a 27% gain that suggests real career progression rather than a quick credential leading nowhere.

The catch is geographic: this program sits at the 40th percentile among California schools, where top performers like Riverside City College see graduates earning $49,000 from the start. That $11,000 gap matters if your student plans to stay in California's higher cost-of-living regions. Still, Summit's exceptionally low debt load makes this a fundamentally different proposition than higher-earning programs that saddle students with $15,000-$20,000 in loans.

For families prioritizing quick workforce entry with minimal debt—particularly the 53% of Summit students on Pell grants—this program offers a solid foundation. Your student graduates owing less than most people spend on a used car, starts earning immediately, and sees consistent salary growth. If they can't access a top-tier California program, Summit's combination of low cost and steady trajectory makes it a practical choice for launching an environmental technology career.