Ground Transportation at Lincoln Land Community College

Springfield, IL · Public · Certificate

with a smaller student body of 3,917 in Springfield, IL.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,142 at Lincoln Land Community College come in 18% above the national median of $41,480 for Ground Transportation programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 143.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Ground Transportation programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 2% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

With first-year pay of $49,142 far exceeding the $5,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #7 of 96 programs, Lincoln Land Community College's Ground Transportation program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $52,215 are relatively flat compared to the $49,142 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Ground Transportation offers 14 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

88 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
87
Low End
88
Score
89
High End
Earnings $49,142/yr (18% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (647,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$527K
1.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
143.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
29 of 29
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)
$3,672
Out-of-state: $10,248
Median Debt at Graduation
$5,500
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,215
6% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Ground Transportation graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Subway and streetcar operators $84,830 +3.4% 59%
Locomotive engineers $77,400 +0.7% 71%
Railroad conductors and yardmasters $74,080 +1.1% 72%
Subway and streetcar operators
$84,830
+3.4% growth 59% AI-proof
Locomotive engineers
$77,400
+0.7% growth 71% AI-proof
Railroad conductors and yardmasters
$74,080
+1.1% growth 72% AI-proof

View all 29 career paths with full salary data →

Ground Transportation Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Ground Transportation — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Lincoln Land Community College and 95 other schools.

Read the full Ground Transportation career guide →

Compare & Explore

Ground Transportation Overview

Ground Transportation at Other Schools

Other Majors at Lincoln Land Community College

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Ground Transportation at Lincoln Land Community College?
At 88/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Is Ground Transportation from Lincoln Land Community College a future-proof career choice?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Ground Transportation work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Lincoln Land Community College's score of 88/100 reflects this durability.
What's the typical debt for Ground Transportation graduates from Lincoln Land Community College?
At $5,500 in median debt, Ground Transportation graduates from Lincoln Land Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
Are there apprenticeship options for Ground Transportation?
Yes — 14 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Ground Transportation career paths, including Asphalt Paving Machine Operator (Alt. Title: Concrete And Asphalt Equip Op). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Lincoln Land Community College.
Is there demand for Ground Transportation workers?
Job availability for Ground Transportation is strong — 647,900 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Lincoln Land Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IL may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →