Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Advanced Technology Institute

Four years out, graduates are earning $48,237—a figure that aligns closely with what automotive tech programs typically produce in Virginia. But the debt picture tells a different story. At an estimated $17,389, students here are taking on roughly 50% more debt than the state median of $11,167 for similar programs, and nearly double the national benchmark of $12,000.

That debt level matters when your first-year earnings are an estimated $42,896. The 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic—automotive technicians can generally handle that burden—but nearby Tidewater Community College produces comparable outcomes (graduates earning $47,722) likely at a fraction of the cost. The fourth-year earnings of $48,237 suggest solid career progression in a field with steady demand, but you're starting deeper in the hole than necessary.

For a parent weighing this investment, the central question is whether Advanced Technology Institute's specific training approach justifies the premium over community college alternatives. The earnings trajectory looks promising, but that estimated debt load means your child will be paying down loans for years while peers from other Virginia programs are banking more of their paycheck from day one.