Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Barton County Community College

This automotive certificate program sits right in the middle of Kansas's range for vehicle maintenance training, with comparable programs across the state suggesting first-year earnings around $36,400. That's slightly above the national median for these credentials, though well below what Wichita State's applied tech campus reports ($47,000). The estimated $7,000 debt load, however, is notably lighter than the $11,000 national median, giving this program a more manageable 0.19 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The practical math looks workable: six months of first-year earnings would cover the total debt, which is reasonable for a short-term credential designed to get students into the workforce quickly. Kansas automotive techs at this earning level can find steady work, though the field typically rewards specialization and certification over time. The lower debt burden compared to national peers is the real advantage here—several Kansas programs suggest similar earning potential, but Barton appears positioned on the more affordable end of that spectrum.

For a student committed to automotive work and willing to stay in Kansas, these estimates point to a sensible entry credential. The key uncertainty is whether Barton's specific outcomes align with these peer program figures. If your child is considering this route, verify current job placement rates and ask whether graduates typically earn additional certifications that boost their early-career earnings closer to what Wichita's program achieves.