Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at American Advanced Technicians Institute

American Advanced Technicians Institute's automotive program costs little but delivers earnings well below what graduates should expect. At $28,380 one year out, graduates earn about $4,000 less than the typical Florida automotive tech graduate and trail the national median by over $7,500. While the program ranks at the 40th percentile within Florida—middle of the pack locally—it sits in just the 14th percentile nationally, meaning 86% of similar programs across the country produce better outcomes.

The program's main advantage is low debt. At $6,519, graduates owe less than half what's typical for Florida automotive programs ($13,875) and significantly less than the national median. This keeps the debt burden manageable at 23% of first-year earnings, and graduates can likely pay off their loans within a couple years. The 60% Pell grant rate suggests the school serves economically disadvantaged students who may especially value this affordability.

The real concern is that earnings barely budge over time, growing only 1% from year one to year four, leaving graduates around $28,600 while peers at top Florida programs earn $38,000-$48,000. If your child is serious about automotive work, they'd likely earn $10,000+ more annually by attending a higher-performing technical college in Florida—schools like Pinellas Technical College or Fort Myers Technical College that offer similar training but consistently place graduates in better-paying positions.