Is CBT Technology Institute-Hialeah Worth It?

The financial return at CBT Technology Institute-Hialeah is weak. Ten years after enrolling, half of graduates earn under $30,000 a year, which is barely above what a full-time job at minimum wage brings in around Hialeah. That number is the core problem here, and it holds across most of the programs the school offers.

The trade programs are where the money is, though "money" is relative. Environmental Control Technologies and Electrical/Electronics Maintenance both clear $34,000 and $33,900. But both also carry the heaviest debt loads on campus, north of $18,000, so you are paying more to earn only a few thousand dollars more than the median. Business Administration lands lower at $32,563. The Computer/Information Technology certificate is the one to avoid on pure numbers: it pays roughly $22,000, less than the associate programs, for a credential that should be cheaper and faster.

The specific risk here is that the payoff barely beats the debt. Median debt is low at $8,550, which softens the blow, but the two highest-earning programs blow past that with debt over $18,000 and $20,000. If you enroll in HVAC or electrical, run the math on your own loan total before you sign.

Every student here receives a Pell Grant, meaning this school serves families with low incomes, and the net price does not drop for the lowest earners. If your family makes under $30,000, you still pay about $11,300 a year out of pocket after aid. That is real money against a $29,000 salary.

This school fits you if you want a fast HVAC or electrical credential and can keep borrowing under $10,000. Look elsewhere if you are considering the IT certificate or expect a degree here to lift you well past $30,000.