Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Indian Hills Community College

The $50,901 starting salary at Indian Hills looks impressive—it's 88th percentile nationally for auto tech programs—but graduates face a puzzling earnings drop to $39,179 by year four. This backward trajectory is unusual even in a field where many graduates eventually open their own shops or move into roles with different compensation structures. Among Iowa's 15 auto tech programs, this ranks middle-of-the-pack (60th percentile), with schools like Des Moines Area and Northwest Iowa delivering stronger four-year outcomes.

The modest $11,500 debt load—below both state and national medians—means graduates start with manageable obligations at just 23% of first-year earnings. That gives recent graduates breathing room even if they hit that earnings decline. The real question is what's driving the drop: are year-four graduates moving into different roles, working reduced hours, or struggling to advance? Without understanding that pattern, it's hard to know if the strong start compensates for the uncertain trajectory.

For parents, the low debt makes this a relatively safe bet if their student plans to work in traditional shop settings right after graduation. But those four-year earnings should prompt a conversation about career progression—whether advancement typically means moving into service management, specializing in high-demand areas like diagnostics, or considering the entrepreneurial route that might temporarily reduce W-2 income.