Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Alexandria Technical & Community College

Alexandria Technical's auto repair program turns out graduates earning nearly $46,000 in their first year—about $10,000 more than the national median for this credential. That's impressive, landing them in the 95th percentile nationally. The $12,000 debt load means students repay roughly three months' worth of earnings, which is quite manageable for a vocational certificate.

However, context matters. Within Minnesota's competitive landscape of auto tech programs, this ranks solidly middle-of-the-pack at the 60th percentile. Minneapolis Community and Technical College graduates earn $58,000 right out of the gate—nearly $13,000 more annually. Still, Alexandria's outcomes beat the state median by about $4,000, and earnings climb to nearly $50,000 by year four, suggesting solid career progression in the field.

The small sample size here is worth noting—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers significantly. That said, the combination of low debt and strong national performance makes this a reasonable choice, especially for students already in the Alexandria area. If you're willing to relocate within Minnesota for training, the Twin Cities programs show measurably stronger earnings potential that could justify the extra commute or moving costs.