Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at College of Central Florida

Florida's automotive programs show enormous variation—from $40,000 at technical institutes to $76,000 at Embry-Riddle's aviation-focused campuses—making College of Central Florida's estimated $58,438 first-year earnings particularly noteworthy. That figure, derived from the four automotive associate programs in Florida with reportable data, suggests this program tracks closer to the state's higher performers than to its technical school peers. With estimated debt around $11,425, the 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates graduates would dedicate roughly two months of gross income to pay off loans—a manageable burden for a field that doesn't require bachelor's credentials.

The gap between Florida's typical outcomes ($58,438) and the national median ($42,896) is striking. Whether that reflects Florida's larger automotive market, cost of living differences, or specialization toward higher-paying sectors like marine or aviation mechanics isn't clear from the data. What matters practically: if this program delivers results comparable to Florida's other automotive programs, your child enters the workforce earning more than most automotive technicians nationally while carrying less debt than the $12,000 national median.

The caveat: with data from only four programs estimating these figures, there's real uncertainty about where this specific program actually lands. The range among Florida's comparable schools is wide enough that outcomes could vary significantly. For a parent, the decision hinges on verifying placement rates and whether graduates secure positions at dealerships, independent shops, or specialized facilities that command those higher Florida wages.