Construction Engineering Technologies at Texarkana College

In Texas, construction engineering technology programs show wide variation in outcomes, making this estimate particularly uncertain. While peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $56,000 with debt near $12,500—a manageable 0.22 ratio—the one Texas school with published data reports median earnings of just $38,682. That's a $17,000 gap that could fundamentally change whether this investment pencils out.

The disconnect matters because construction careers in Texas don't follow a single trajectory. Some graduates land roles with major contractors or energy sector projects that justify the national figures, while others enter residential construction or smaller operations where pay scales look more like the state median. Without knowing where Texarkana's specific program sends its graduates, you're essentially betting on which outcome is more likely for your student.

At estimated debt of $12,563, this program won't bury anyone financially even in a worse-case scenario. But the earnings uncertainty means you should dig deeper before committing: talk to the department about typical employers who hire their graduates, ask about job placement rates in different sectors, and gauge whether the program has strong connections to higher-paying construction firms in the region. The debt is low enough to take the risk if those conversations reveal solid industry ties, but high enough to warrant asking the questions first.