Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Cerritos College

California's automotive technology programs show enormous variation, with top earners breaking $64,000 while Cerritos' estimated outcomes sit near the state median at roughly $40,000. Based on comparable programs in California, you're looking at first-year earnings around $39,800 against projected debt of $11,400—a manageable 0.29 ratio that means about three months of gross pay to cover borrowing. That's considerably better than the state median debt of nearly $19,000 for similar programs.

The challenge here is that these are estimates drawn from peer programs, not actual tracked outcomes for Cerritos graduates specifically. What we do know: nationally, this field typically produces $42,900 in first-year earnings with $12,000 in debt, so the California estimate tracks slightly lower on both counts. The real variability comes from where graduates land jobs and what certifications they complete—those top-performing California programs suggest there's significantly more earning potential available in certain markets or specializations.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated debt load is reasonable enough that even if actual outcomes fall somewhat short, the financial risk stays contained. But push your student to understand what differentiates the $40,000 programs from the $64,000 ones—whether it's location, dealer partnerships, or specific technical certifications—because that gap represents real money that could determine whether this associate's degree pays off quickly or merely adequately.