Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at City College of San Francisco

City College of San Francisco's automotive program appears positioned below both national and state peers on earnings, with comparable programs in California suggesting first-year wages around $39,800—nearly $3,000 less than the national median for associate's degrees in vehicle maintenance. While some California programs report earnings above $64,000, those are specialized trade schools that may target different segments of the automotive industry. CCSF's estimated outcomes align more closely with Universal Technical Institute campuses statewide, which report earnings in the $39,000-$40,000 range.

The debt picture offers a brighter spot: at an estimated $11,400, graduates here would carry roughly $7,400 less debt than typical California automotive programs. That produces a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, meaning less than a third of first-year income would theoretically go toward loan repayment. With only 17% of students receiving Pell grants, CCSF may serve a different demographic than community colleges typically do, possibly explaining the lower debt loads.

For parents, the key question is whether San Francisco's high cost of living makes these earnings workable. Automotive technicians earn steady middle-income wages, but $39,800 goes considerably less far in the Bay Area than elsewhere in California. If your student plans to stay local after graduation, scrutinize whether entry-level automotive wages can sustain independent living in this market.