Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Bismarck State College

The small sample size here is a red flag—but if these numbers hold, Bismarck State's auto tech program looks like an exceptional value. At $6,275 in debt against $44,309 in first-year earnings, graduates are looking at roughly six weeks of gross income to pay off their loans. That's the kind of math that lets someone start building savings immediately.

The earnings trajectory is solid, with graduates seeing 11% growth to nearly $49,000 by year four. What makes this particularly interesting is the national comparison: these graduates earn in the 90th percentile compared to similar programs nationwide, pulling in about $8,400 more than the typical auto tech graduate. Within North Dakota, the program sits at the 60th percentile—respectable, though it suggests there may be even stronger options in-state if available.

The biggest caveat is that sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, one or two unusually successful (or unsuccessful) careers can skew the entire picture. But the combination of minimal debt and strong national earnings performance suggests this program is doing something right in preparing technicians for well-paying positions. For families comfortable with the skilled trades and willing to accept some statistical uncertainty, this presents a low-risk entry point into a field with consistent demand.