Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology at Tri-County Technical College

Tri-County Technical College's electrical maintenance program delivers strong first-year earnings of $51,891—well above the $45,298 national median for associate's degrees in this field. While the debt figure of $12,000 is estimated from national patterns rather than this specific program's outcomes, that level would translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23, meaning graduates would owe less than three months of their first-year salary. This positions the program favorably compared to many technical degrees where debt burdens are substantially higher.

The earnings trajectory here is particularly compelling. Growth from $51,891 to $69,753 over four years represents a 34% increase, suggesting that electrical maintenance skills command progressively higher wages as technicians gain experience. This isn't a field where earnings plateau quickly after graduation. South Carolina's industrial base—manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and tech facilities—creates steady demand for skilled electrical technicians, and Tri-County appears well-positioned to prepare students for these roles.

For parents weighing this investment, the fundamentals look solid: strong starting wages, clear earnings growth, and likely manageable debt based on peer programs. The key question is whether similar outcomes hold for Tri-County specifically, which the suppressed data doesn't let us confirm. Still, the combination of above-average earnings and technical skills training in high-demand areas makes this a program worth serious consideration for students interested in hands-on electrical work.