Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Grayson College

Similar vehicle maintenance programs across Texas suggest first-year earnings around $38,500—trailing the national median by roughly $4,400 and sitting well below what graduates from top Texas programs like Tarrant County College ($50,531) or Amarillo College ($45,594) achieve. That gap matters when you're entering a competitive field where employers often recruit from multiple community colleges in the same region.

The estimated debt load of $10,387 works in this program's favor, coming in below both the state median ($17,360) and national benchmark ($12,000). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, graduates would theoretically need about three months of gross income to cover their educational investment—a manageable figure for skilled trades. However, comparable programs elsewhere in Texas are producing earnings that could justify even higher debt loads, which raises questions about whether Grayson's program connects graduates to the highest-paying employers or certifications.

For parents, the key challenge is that these estimates don't tell you what Grayson graduates specifically earn or owe. Before committing, push the school for placement rates with major dealerships and independent shops, ASE certification pass rates, and whether their curriculum aligns with high-demand specializations like diagnostics or hybrid/electric vehicle repair. The modest estimated debt is encouraging, but in automotive technology, your earning potential often depends on where you get hired and what credentials you hold—details these estimates can't capture.