Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Johnston Community College

The estimated $11,425 in debt here looks manageable given typical automotive tech earnings, but the projected first-year income of $38,842 trails stronger programs in North Carolina by a noticeable margin. Guilford Tech and Central Piedmont graduates earn $45,000-plus in their first year—about $6,000 more annually than comparable programs in the state suggest for Johnston. In a field where certification and hands-on skills matter more than the college name, that gap raises questions about whether this program opens the same doors into higher-paying shops and dealerships.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means students would theoretically owe less than four months of gross income, which sounds reasonable on paper. However, automotive technicians face real startup costs—tool purchases alone can run several thousand dollars—that aren't captured in these figures. When peer programs in the same state are producing graduates who earn enough to absorb both debt and equipment costs more comfortably, the difference matters.

If your child is set on staying local, Johnston may work, but compare closely with programs like Guilford Tech or Central Piedmont that show stronger earnings outcomes. In automotive technology, where job prospects depend heavily on shop connections and equipment quality, the program's placement relationships and facilities deserve scrutiny beyond what estimated numbers can tell you.