Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians at Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 suggests this electrical engineering technology program could deliver solid value, though the complete picture remains uncertain. Based on national benchmarks from similar associate's programs, students typically finish with around $12,000 in debt and earn roughly $55,000 in their first year—meaning the debt load equals just over two months of gross salary. That's manageable by most standards, particularly for a technical field where earnings often grow steadily with experience and additional certifications.

The challenge here is that both figures are estimated from peer programs nationally, not actual outcomes from Wichita State's program specifically. Kansas has only two schools offering this associate's degree, and neither has published graduate data, making it impossible to assess how this program stacks up locally or whether Wichita's specific curriculum and industry connections produce better or worse results than the national typical. The school's relatively low Pell grant percentage (21%) might suggest it draws students with more financial resources, but that tells you little about job placement rates or employer relationships in the Wichita area.

If your child is mechanically inclined and interested in electrical systems, the estimated numbers point toward reasonable risk. Before committing, however, dig into program specifics: job placement rates, whether local manufacturers and utilities hire graduates, and what credentials or licenses students earn alongside the degree.