Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians at Wayne State College

Wayne State College graduates in industrial production technologies earn $54,600 in their first year—about $5,000 below the national median for this degree but solidly middle-of-the-pack among Nebraska's limited options for this field. With only three schools offering this program statewide, you're looking at 60th percentile performance in-state, which translates to: not the top choice, but competitive for students committed to staying in Nebraska.

The $25,000 in median debt creates a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. That's workable territory—roughly $280/month in payments won't derail a financial start. The real question is whether $54,600 meets your expectations for a bachelor's degree in a technical field, especially when the national picture suggests stronger earning potential exists elsewhere.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could swing considerably year-to-year. For anxious parents, that small sample size means less certainty about what your child will actually experience. If staying in Nebraska is non-negotiable and your student is passionate about manufacturing technology, Wayne State offers reasonable debt with steady if unspectacular earnings. But families willing to look beyond state borders might find programs delivering $10,000-15,000 more in starting salary for similar debt loads.