Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians at University of Hartford

The small sample size here demands caution, but the numbers tell a puzzling story. University of Hartford graduates earn $54,565 their first year out—about $8,300 below the national median for this bachelor's degree—yet they're carrying half the typical debt load at $27,000. That's the tradeoff: lower earnings, but manageable debt that equals just six months of income. While this program ranks only in the 5th percentile nationally for earnings, it lands at the 60th percentile among Connecticut's two schools offering this degree, suggesting the state's market for these skills may simply pay less than elsewhere.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 is actually quite reasonable, especially compared to many bachelor's programs that leave students with ratios above 1.0. However, the 85th percentile debt ranking (meaning 85% of similar programs have less debt) is less encouraging than it first appears—most schools just saddle students with even more loans for this degree. With only two Connecticut programs to choose from and fewer than 30 recent graduates to analyze, these figures might not represent a stable pattern.

For Connecticut families committed to staying in-state for this technical field, this program offers a path to employment without crushing debt. But if your student can secure admission to stronger programs elsewhere—particularly those hitting that $66,000+ mark at the 75th percentile nationally—the higher first-year earnings could easily justify modest additional borrowing or out-of-state tuition.