Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas

Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Dallas graduates earn considerably more than typical auto technicians—$43,460 in the first year, jumping to $48,916 by year four. That puts them in the 87th percentile nationally, well above the national median of $35,905. However, this strong performance comes at a steep price: $32,500 in median debt, nearly three times the national median for automotive programs and more than double what Texas schools typically charge.

Within Texas, this program sits at the 60th percentile for earnings—respectable but not exceptional. Several community colleges in the state produce graduates earning similar or better salaries while charging far less. Tarrant County College graduates, for example, earn $50,956 with presumably much lower debt loads. The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates are borrowing roughly 9 months of their first-year salary, which is manageable but notably higher than what's typical for community college alternatives.

For families comfortable with the debt load, the program delivers solid outcomes and upward mobility for a population where over half receive Pell grants. But parents should run the numbers carefully: that $32,500 in loans will mean monthly payments around $350-400 for a decade, eating into the earnings advantage this school provides. If comparable community colleges are accessible, they offer a considerably safer financial path to the same career.