Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Automeca Technical College-Caguas

This automotive repair program at Automeca Technical College offers extraordinarily low debt ($3,000) but comes with earnings that are dramatically below mainland standards. While graduates earn just $15,287 in their first year—ranking in only the 5th percentile nationally—this represents the median for automotive programs across Puerto Rico, where this program ranks in the 60th percentile among local competitors.

The debt picture is the program's strongest selling point. At $3,000, it's less than one-third of the national average debt for automotive programs ($11,000), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.20. This means graduates can theoretically pay off their debt with just two months of earnings. The 28% earnings growth from year 1 to year 4 also shows meaningful career progression, with salaries reaching $19,507 by the fourth year.

However, the earnings reality requires serious consideration. Even after four years, graduates earn less than half of what their mainland counterparts make initially ($35,905 nationally). For families considering this investment, the key question is whether your child plans to work in Puerto Rico's local economy—where these earnings are competitive—or eventually move to the mainland where they'd be significantly behind. The minimal debt makes this a low-risk credential for local employment, but it may not provide the earning power needed for broader economic mobility.