Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Centralia College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 is manageable territory for an automotive technician program, though the figures here come from national peers rather than Centralia's actual graduate outcomes. Typical programs in this field produce first-year earnings around $43,000 with debt loads near $11,000-$12,000, numbers that suggest you'd need roughly three months of gross income to cover what you borrowed. That's a workable starting point for a trade credential.

Washington's automotive programs cluster tightly around $42,000 in first-year earnings, so there's little variation to chase across the state. The real question is whether Centralia can match what places like Clark College deliver—programs there see graduates earning closer to $46,000. Without actual outcomes from Centralia, you're betting that its hands-on training and industry connections produce results similar to the national norm. The 21% Pell grant rate suggests a more affluent student body than many community colleges, which might indicate stronger support systems but tells you nothing about job placement quality.

The practical reality: automotive technology is a stable field with clear hiring demand, and an associate's degree won't bury you in debt. But you're making this decision without knowing how Centralia's specific graduates fare. If possible, contact the automotive department directly for job placement rates and starting salary ranges from recent cohorts—that local data matters more than national averages when you're committing two years and $11,000.