Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Kirkwood Community College

Kirkwood's auto tech program sits in an interesting position: it beats national averages but trails most Iowa competitors. Graduates here earn $44,896 in their first year—solid compared to the $42,896 national median, but roughly $3,000 below Iowa's state median of $47,882. Among Iowa's 15 programs, this lands at the 40th percentile, with programs at Des Moines Area Community College and Northwest Iowa Community College topping out around $52,000. That gap matters when you're comparing in-state options with similar tuition costs.

The upside is manageable debt and steady earnings growth. At $10,000 in typical borrowing—below both state and national averages—the debt burden is light enough that graduates hit a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.22. Earnings also climb to over $50,000 by year four, showing the field rewards experience. For a student committed to staying in Iowa, though, it's worth noting that several community colleges deliver stronger starting salaries for the same credential.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty here, so these numbers could shift year to year. If Kirkwood is the convenient choice geographically, the combination of low debt and respectable earnings still makes this workable. But if your child has flexibility on location within Iowa, programs at Des Moines Area or Northwest Iowa offer a measurably stronger financial start in the same career path.