Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Arapahoe Community College

In Colorado's vehicle maintenance and repair market, Arapahoe Community College's program lands in the middle of the pack—reported first-year earnings of $38,845 place it below the state median of $40,870, trailing programs at Community College of Aurora ($57,677) and several other nearby options. What makes the comparison tricky is that estimated debt of $11,425 comes from similar community college programs nationally, not from Arapahoe's actual graduate outcomes, so you're working with partial information about the full investment picture.

The stronger argument for this program emerges in year four, when earnings jump to $66,773—a 72% increase that suggests technicians who stick with the field can build solid middle-class incomes. That trajectory matters in automotive work, where experience and specialized certifications directly translate to higher pay. Based on comparable programs, the estimated debt load represents just 29% of first-year earnings, which should be manageable even during the lower-earning early years.

The practical question is whether slightly lower starting pay is offset by Arapahoe's location and connections to Denver-area employers. If your student can access one of the higher-performing programs in Colorado—particularly Community College of Aurora with its $57,000 first-year outcomes—that's worth exploring. But if Arapahoe offers better scheduling, proximity, or job placement support, the difference in early earnings may matter less than the solid long-term growth pattern and reasonable debt burden suggested by peer programs.