Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Valencia College

Valencia College graduates with this engineering technology degree start at $64,538—slightly below the Florida median but with remarkably low debt. At just $12,299, these students borrow less than half what peers at other Florida programs take on (state median: $32,680), making this one of the most affordable paths to this credential in the state.

The debt advantage matters more than the modest earnings gap. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19, graduates can realistically pay off their loans within a year or two while their peers elsewhere face multiple years of payments. Earnings also grow respectably to $76,021 by year four, putting graduates on solid financial footing. While DeVry grads in Florida earn about $3,000 more initially, they likely carry significantly more debt to get there.

For families cost-conscious about bachelor's degrees—and particularly those receiving Pell grants, which 39% of Valencia students do—this program delivers practical engineering skills without the financial burden typical of four-year technical programs. The earnings may not impress relative to traditional engineering degrees, but as an affordable entry point to skilled technical work in Orlando's growing aerospace and electronics sectors, it's a defensible choice.