Best institutions to study Telecommunications Technology/Technician
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to help design and implement telecommunications systems.
26 U.S. institutions graduated 332 Telecommunications Technology/Technician students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 15.0305, a specialization of Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.03), and leads most directly to the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation (BLS SOC 17-3023).
About Telecommunications Technology/Technician programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to help design and implement telecommunications systems. Includes instruction in communications protocol, data networking, digital compression algorithms, digital signal processing, Internet access, object-oriented and relational databases, and programming languages.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Telecommunications Technology/Technician program prepares individuals to apply engineering principles and technical skills in the design and implementation of telecommunications systems. This program is ideal for those interested in working with advanced communication technologies and systems, offering a pathway into the field of electrical and electronic engineering technologies.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in communications protocols, data networking, digital signal processing, and programming languages. Core skills include critical thinking, mathematics, and active learning, equipping graduates to effectively troubleshoot and maintain telecommunications systems.
Credentials awarded
What Telecommunications Technology/Technician graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year186 graduates / yr · 10 institutions56%
- Associate's degree82 graduates / yr · 7 institutions25%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years47 graduates / yr · 5 institutions14%
- Bachelor's degree8 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.4%
- Master's degree7 graduates / yr · 3 institutions2.1%
- Award of less than 12 weeks2 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.6%
Graduates over time
Telecommunications Technology/Technician completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 700 |
| 2013 | 928 |
| 2014 | 853 |
| 2015 | 783 |
| 2016 | 828 |
| 2017 | 614 |
| 2018 | 634 |
| 2019 | 737 |
| 2020 | 646 |
| 2021 | 421 |
| 2022 | 451 |
| 2023 | 346 |
| 2024 | 282 |
| 2025 | 332 |
Top 26 institutions for Telecommunications Technology/Technician, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seminole State College of Florida Sanford, FLPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 118 | 41% | — | — |
| 2 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, INPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 68 | 40% | — | $54,852 |
| 3 | College of Micronesia - FSM Pohnpei, FMPublicAssociate's | 18 | 34% | — | — |
| 4 | Commonwealth Technical Institute Johnstown, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate's | 17 | 86% | $14,343 | — |
| 5 | Fresno City College Fresno, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 16 | 24% | — | — |
| 6 | Colby Community College Colby, KSPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 15 | 55% | — | — |
| 7 | Clark College Vancouver, WAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAssociate's | 13 | 39% | — | — |
| 8 | Bossier Parish Community College Bossier City, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 12 | 15% | — | — |
| 9 | Mitchell Technical College Mitchell, SDPublicAssociate's | 12 | 76% | — | $51,832 |
| 10 | American River College Sacramento, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 11 | 37% | — | — |
| 11 | Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 61% | $32,679 | — |
| 12 | Los Angeles Trade Technical College Los Angeles, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 5 | 35% | — | — |
| 13 | Tarrant County College District Fort Worth, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 4 | 34% | — | — |
| 14 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Gurabo Campus Gurabo, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 31% | $9,370 | — |
| 15 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicMaster's | 2 | 67% | — | — |
| 16 | Long Beach City College Long Beach, CAPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 1 | 30% | — | — |
| 17 | Los Angeles Pierce College Woodland Hills, CAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 46% | — | — |
| 18 | College of DuPage Glen Ellyn, ILPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 25% | — | — |
| 19 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MIPublicBachelor's | 1 | 47% | — | $68,334 |
| 20 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NYPublicBachelor's | 1 | 21% | — | $61,520 |
| 21 | CUNY Queensborough Community College Bayside, NYPublicAssociate's | 1 | 24% | — | — |
| 22 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 70% | $28,133 | $75,227 |
| 23 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald Hohenwald, TNPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 65% | — | — |
| 24 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Livingston Livingston, TNPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 1 | 78% | — | — |
| 25 | Uintah Basin Technical College Roosevelt, UTPublicAward of less than 12 weeks | 1 | 86% | — | — |
| 26 | Norco College Norco, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 1 | 42% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 15.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 17 states & territories
Where Telecommunications Technology/Technician graduates come from. Each state links to all Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 118 | Seminole State College of Florida118 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 68 | Ivy Tech Community College68 / yr |
| California | 6 | 35 | Fresno City College16 / yr |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 1 | 18 | College of Micronesia - FSM18 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 17 | Commonwealth Technical Institute17 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 15 | Colby Community College15 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 13 | Clark College13 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 12 | Bossier Parish Community College12 / yr |
| South Dakota | 1 | 12 | Mitchell Technical College12 / yr |
| Michigan | 2 | 7 | Lawrence Technological University6 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 4 | Tarrant County College District4 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 4 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez - Gurabo Campus4 / yr |
| New York | 3 | 3 | CUNY New York City College of Technology1 / yr |
| Tennessee | 2 | 2 | Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Hohenwald1 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln2 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | College of DuPage1 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 1 | Uintah Basin Technical College1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 17-3023, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Telecommunications Technology/Technician program often pursue careers as Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians. The job outlook indicates little or no change in the field, with an estimated 8,400 annual openings and a median wage of $77,180, typically requiring an associate's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 15.0305
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Techniciansprimary SOC 17-3023 | $78,190 | +0.6% Little or no change | ~8,400 | Associate's degree |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Telecommunications Technology/Technician programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Modify, maintain, or repair electronics equipment or systems to ensure proper functioning.
- Replace defective components or parts, using hand tools and precision instruments.
- Set up and operate specialized or standard test equipment to diagnose, test, or analyze the performance of electronic components, assemblies, or systems.
- Read blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings, or engineering instructions for assembling electronics units, applying knowledge of electronic theory and components.
- Identify and resolve equipment malfunctions, working with manufacturers or field representatives as necessary to procure replacement parts.
- Assemble electrical systems or prototypes, using hand tools or measuring instruments.
Tools and technology used
Other Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.03).
- Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0303
Technician 7,489 graduates / yr358 institutions - Electrical/CIP 15.0399
Electronic Engineering Technologies/ Technicians 1,734 graduates / yr64 institutions - Laser and Optical Technology/CIP 15.0304
Technician 203 graduates / yr20 institutions - Audio Engineering Technology/CIP 15.0307
Technician 143 graduates / yr12 institutions - Integrated Circuit Design Technology/CIP 15.0306
Technician limited data4 graduates / yr1 institutions
See all Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What is the duration of the Telecommunications Technology program?+
The program typically offers awards of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What kind of degree can I earn?+
You can earn an associate's degree or other awards based on your program duration.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and mathematics, among others.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as an Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist or Technician.
What is the CIP code for Telecommunications Technology/Technician?+
Telecommunications Technology/Technician is CIP 15.0305 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (CIP 15.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills to help design and implement telecommunications systems. Includes instruction in communications protocol, data networking, digital compression algorithms, digital signal processing, Internet access, object-oriented and relational databases, and programming languages.
How many institutions offer Telecommunications Technology/Technician programs?+
26 U.S. institutions reported Telecommunications Technology/Technician graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states & territories, awarding 332 credentials in the year. That is 3.4% of all Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Telecommunications Technology/Technician graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians occupation, which Telecommunications Technology/Technician most directly leads to, pays a median of $78,190 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $61,520 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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