Physical Science Technologies/Technicians at Weber State University

Weber State's Physical Science Technologies program is the only one of its kind in Utah, making direct state comparisons impossible, but the debt picture here looks unusually favorable. While graduates earn about $3,000 less than the national median ($51,384 vs. $54,260), they're carrying roughly double the typical debt at $22,442. The silver lining? That debt load still represents less than half a year's salary, and it's actually quite low compared to what students in similar programs elsewhere typically borrow—landing in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt.

The concern is that this program ranks in only the 34th percentile for earnings nationally, meaning two-thirds of comparable programs produce higher-earning graduates. Starting at $51,000 isn't problematic on its own, but there's a meaningful gap between what you could earn here versus top-performing programs. The small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates) adds uncertainty—one unusual graduating class could skew these figures significantly.

For families who need their student to stay in Utah, this is your only in-state option for this credential, and the debt burden is manageable. But if you're willing to look at out-of-state programs, you'll likely find options where graduates start $5,000-10,000 higher with similar or lower debt levels.