Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Washtenaw Community College

Washtenaw Community College's Industrial Production Technologies program shows a troubling pattern: graduates earn $42,813 in their first year, then see earnings drop 27% to just $31,026 by year four. This reverse trajectory is unusual and suggests graduates may struggle to find stable positions in their field or face market challenges that push them into lower-paying work over time. While the $15,000 debt load is reasonable, it looks less attractive when paired with declining rather than growing income.

The state comparison reveals both good and bad news. Among Michigan's 23 industrial production programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile—solidly middle of the pack for the state. However, nationally, it falls to the 14th percentile, meaning 86% of similar programs deliver better first-year earnings. The national median for this degree is $56,704, about $14,000 higher than Washtenaw graduates earn initially. That gap widens significantly as earnings decline in subsequent years while most programs see growth.

For families considering this program, the earnings decline is the critical issue to investigate. Talk directly with the school about job placement patterns and why graduates might earn less four years out. At current trajectories, graduates could struggle to justify even this modest debt if their income continues trending downward. Unless there's a clear explanation for the decline—like many graduates pursuing further education—this program appears to underperform both state and national alternatives.