Engineering Technology, General at Chattanooga State Community College

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 4,689 in Chattanooga, TN.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,531 track close to the $51,680 national median for Engineering Technology, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 79.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 27% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Engineering Technology, General career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $12,000 in median debt against $52,531 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Engineering Technology, General is offered at just 9 schools in our analysis. Chattanooga State Community College's #2 ranking should be read in that context.

A 34% earnings increase from $52,531 to $70,616 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 31 apprenticeship pathways connected to Engineering Technology, General reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
64
Score
66
High End
Earnings $52,531/yr (2% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (60% shielded)
Job Market Medium (28,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$749K
7.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
82.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,100
Out-of-state: $35,500
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
2.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,616
34% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Engineering Technology, General graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830 +8.1% 68%
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other $77,390 +1.5% 76%
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians $77,180 +0.6% 59%
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
$79,830
+8.1% growth 68% AI-proof
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other
$77,390
+1.5% growth 76% AI-proof
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians
$77,180
+0.6% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Engineering Technology, General Careers

Your work bridges the gap between abstract engineering designs and tangible reality. As an engineering technologist, you're the one who makes things work. One day, you might be in a lab using an oscilloscope to test the performance of a new electronic circuit board; the next, you could be on a factory floor, observing a production line to identify and solve efficiency-killing bottlenecks.

Read the full Engineering Technology, General career guide →

Compare & Explore

Engineering Technology, General Overview

Engineering Technology, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Chattanooga State Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 64/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Engineering Technology, General at Chattanooga State Community College?
This program scores 64/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Engineering Technology, General graduates.
How vulnerable is Engineering Technology, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Engineering Technology, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 40% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Engineering Technology, General at Chattanooga State Community College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $52,531/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Chattanooga State Community College rank so high for Engineering Technology, General?
The #2 ranking out of 9 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Engineering Technology, General?
Yes — 31 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Engineering Technology, General career paths, including Additive 3D Printing Technician. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →