Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at De Anza College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 suggests this automotive program could pencil out financially, though the lack of program-specific data makes it hard to be certain. Based on comparable auto tech programs in California, first-year earnings around $39,800 would put graduates slightly below the national median for this field, while estimated debt of $11,425 comes in better than both the state and national averages. In California's high-cost-of-living environment, however, that sub-$40,000 starting salary deserves scrutiny—especially when some California programs are producing graduates earning $64,000 or more in their first year.

The challenge is that we're comparing estimates to actual outcomes from other schools. Those top-performing programs—San Joaquin Valley College and UTI campuses—have reported data showing significantly higher earnings, and they represent the kind of returns that make automotive training a solid investment. Whether De Anza's program performs similarly or falls short is simply unknown. What we do know is that automotive technician roles in the Bay Area often pay well above state averages, which could work in graduates' favor despite the region's cost pressures.

The relatively low estimated debt is the strongest part of this picture. If the earnings estimates prove accurate, graduates would face manageable loan payments. But given the wide variation in outcomes across California programs and the complete absence of school-specific data, you're betting on an unknown. If your student has admission offers from programs with reported earnings, those provide more certainty about what to expect.