Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Based on comparable automotive technology programs in Florida, this associate's degree appears positioned in the middle of the state's market, with estimated first-year earnings around $58,438—well above the national median of $42,896 for these programs. The estimated $11,425 in debt produces a manageable 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly one-fifth of their first year's income. For context, Florida's automotive programs show enormous variation: Embry-Riddle's specialized aviation maintenance graduates earn nearly $77,000, while UTI-Orlando grads start closer to $40,000.

The crucial caveat: these figures come from other Florida automotive programs, not Florida State College's actual graduates, because the school's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to report. This makes it harder to judge whether this particular program delivers the training quality that Florida's better-paying automotive employers seek. The state's median debt for these programs sits at $14,934, so the estimated borrowing here looks conservative, though again, actual student outcomes may differ.

For parents evaluating this program, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable economics for an automotive career—assuming Florida State College's actual outcomes match those of peer programs. Before committing, talk to the school's career services about job placement rates, which employers hire their graduates, and whether those positions lean toward general repair work or higher-paying specializations.