Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at College of Lake County

Similar auto tech programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $51,000—a solid starting point that's well above the national median for this field. The estimated debt load of $11,425 translates to a manageable 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly two months of their first year's salary. That's far better than many associate degree programs.

However, there's a puzzling data point here: reported fourth-year earnings drop to $39,663, which is actually lower than the first-year estimate. This backward progression is unusual for skilled trades and raises questions about whether graduates are staying in the field, facing regional wage ceilings, or moving into different automotive roles that pay less. The top performer in Illinois—Illinois Central College—shows graduates earning $58,000, suggesting geographic or program-specific factors matter considerably.

The financial framework looks reasonable on paper, but that earnings dip deserves investigation. Ask the school directly about job placement patterns and whether graduates typically advance in earnings beyond year four. If automotive technology truly interests your child and they're comfortable with hands-on work, the debt burden won't be crushing. Just understand you're working with peer program estimates rather than this school's actual graduate outcomes, and the four-year earnings figure suggests more complexity than the initial numbers reveal.