Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Jones Technical Institute

Jones Technical's automotive program serves a predominantly working-class student base (63% receive Pell grants) but struggles to deliver competitive outcomes within Florida's automotive training landscape. At $40,208 in first-year earnings, graduates earn roughly $18,000 less than the Florida median for this field—landing in just the 10th percentile statewide. While the debt load of $18,311 remains manageable with a 0.46 ratio to first-year income, students here are paying more than the state median debt while earning significantly less than peers at other Florida programs.

The 20% earnings growth to $48,341 by year four offers some upside, though even those later earnings fall short of what many graduates earn immediately after completing programs elsewhere in Florida. Universal Technical Institute-Orlando, for instance, produces nearly identical first-year outcomes with likely stronger industry connections. The robust sample size means these figures reliably reflect what graduates can expect.

For Florida families, this program presents a disconnect between cost and market outcomes. If your child is set on staying local to Jacksonville, the manageable debt prevents financial disaster. But families willing to consider other Florida options—particularly UTI-Orlando or programs closer to the state's aerospace and maritime maintenance hubs—will find their tuition dollars working harder. The gap between this program and Florida's median isn't marginal; it suggests structural differences in curriculum, employer pipelines, or credential recognition that matter in a competitive job market.