Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Iowa Central Community College

Iowa Central's automotive technology program gets graduates earning quickly—$49,556 in the first year puts them well above the national median of $42,896 and solidly in the 82nd percentile nationally. That's strong initial placement. However, earnings slip slightly to $48,826 by year four, which is worth noting since this is hands-on work where experience typically commands higher pay. Among Iowa's 15 automotive programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, meaning there are notably stronger options in-state: Des Moines Area and Northwest Iowa graduates are earning roughly $3,500-$3,700 more annually.

The $12,000 debt load is perfectly manageable—a 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could reasonably pay this off within a year or two of focused repayment. This is exactly the kind of career-focused associate degree that makes financial sense: low debt, immediate employment, and earnings that comfortably support loan repayment and living expenses in Iowa's lower-cost markets.

The practical question is whether this program is worth choosing over higher-performing Iowa alternatives. If your student has strong ties to Fort Dodge or specific reasons to attend Iowa Central, the financial picture works fine. But if location is flexible, programs like Des Moines Area or Northwest Iowa offer meaningfully better earning potential for similar debt—an extra $3,000-$3,500 annually adds up to roughly $150,000 over a 40-year career.