Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Laredo College

Based on comparable automotive technology programs in Texas, Laredo College's associate degree suggests a manageable financial picture: $10,387 in estimated debt against first-year earnings around $38,500. That 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would likely pay roughly three months' income toward their loans—a reasonable trade-off for entering a skilled trade with consistent demand.

The estimated earnings, however, trail the strongest programs in Texas by a meaningful margin. Top performers like Tarrant County College District and Hallmark University report graduates earning $47,000-$50,000 in their first year, about $9,000-$12,000 more than peer programs suggest for Laredo. Whether that gap reflects Laredo's local job market (border city economies can differ substantially from Dallas or Houston) or program connections to higher-paying dealerships and shops isn't clear from these estimates. The debt figure looks favorable compared to the $17,360 median across Texas programs, though that's based on just four similar institutions.

For families in Laredo itself, this program may make practical sense—automotive technicians find work everywhere, the estimated debt burden is light, and completing training close to home avoids relocation costs. But if your student can access programs in Texas's major metro areas without significantly more expense, the earnings potential there appears notably stronger.