Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Fort Hays Tech North Central

Four years into their careers, graduates from comparable vehicle maintenance programs are earning around $48,000—a meaningful increase from the estimated $43,000 first-year figure, which sits right at the national median. That upward trajectory matters in the skilled trades, where experience directly translates to higher pay. However, Kansas automotive programs typically produce stronger outcomes, with the state median at nearly $49,000 even in year one. This suggests Fort Hays Tech North Central's program may be performing below what's typical for the state, though without actual school-specific data, we can't know for certain.

The estimated debt load of $11,425 works out to a manageable 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. Peer programs nationally carry slightly more debt at around $12,000, so this program appears to keep borrowing in check. For a technical credential that leads to steady employment, that's the right balance.

The key uncertainty here is whether this specific program matches Kansas norms or falls short of them. Given that other Kansas technical colleges show a wide range—from $41,600 to over $56,000 in starting pay—location and employer partnerships likely matter enormously. If your child has local connections to dealerships or fleet operations in north-central Kansas, this program's lower cost could offset potentially modest earnings. Otherwise, investigating which specific employers hire from Fort Hays Tech North Central would clarify whether the investment makes sense.