Electrical and Power Transmission Installers at Trinidad State College

Trinidad State College's electrical program is a textbook example of how smaller regional schools can deliver outsized value. With just $3,588 in typical debt and graduates earning $73,424 within a year, this program achieves a debt-to-earnings ratio that's virtually unheard of—you're looking at roughly three weeks of work to pay off the entire debt load. The earnings trajectory gets even better, climbing to $86,350 by year four.

The state comparison reveals something interesting: while this program ranks around the 60th percentile among Colorado's electrical programs, it's actually neck-and-neck with Emily Griffith Technical College, the state's top performer, in terms of first-year earnings. More importantly, Trinidad accomplishes this with far less debt than the state median of $5,500. The national picture is even more striking—95th percentile for earnings means this program outperforms nearly every similar certificate program in the country, where the typical graduate earns just $38,716.

For a working-class field that leads to union positions and steady income growth, this represents about as safe an investment as vocational education gets. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes, and serving 41% Pell-eligible students shows the program effectively serves as an economic ladder. This is the kind of program that actually justifies the word "affordable"—minimal debt, immediate strong earnings, and real growth potential.