Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Dunwoody College of Technology

Dunwoody's automotive technology program charges open-access tuition for outcomes that trail most Minnesota competitors. While graduates earn $45,469 in their first year—above the national median—they're making $6,000 less than the typical Minnesota automotive grad. That's a significant gap in a field where most programs are offered at community colleges with lower tuition.

The state comparison gets more concerning when you look at the leaders: Alexandria Technical grads earn $65,311 their first year, while Hennepin Technical hits $57,382. Even the state median sits at $51,478. Dunwoody ranks in just the 40th percentile among Minnesota automotive programs, meaning six out of ten alternatives in-state deliver better starting salaries. The $12,000 debt load matches both state and national medians, so you're paying typical debt for below-average Minnesota outcomes.

The 17% earnings growth to $53,125 by year four is solid, and the debt burden remains manageable at 0.26 times first-year earnings. But your child would likely be better served at one of Minnesota's technical colleges, where they'd start with a $10,000-$20,000 earnings advantage and pay similar or lower tuition. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose Dunwoody specifically—location, specific coursework, or campus environment—the data suggests looking at the state's community and technical colleges first.