Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Lee College

In Texas, automotive technology programs show significant variation in outcomes, and Lee College's estimated figures based on similar programs suggest mid-range results. The projected $38,506 first-year earnings fall below both the national median ($42,896) and what top-performing programs in the state report—Tarrant County College District and Hallmark University produce graduates earning in the $47,000-$50,000 range. However, the estimated $10,387 debt load is notably lower than Texas's median of $17,360 for these programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 that looks manageable on paper.

The practical challenge is that these are projections from peer programs, not track records from Lee's actual graduates. What matters most is whether the school has strong employer connections in the Houston-Baytown industrial corridor, where petrochemical and manufacturing facilities create steady demand for skilled technicians. Given that 32% of students receive Pell grants, keeping debt low is crucial—and the estimated figure here is encouraging. But before committing, you'd want to verify Lee's actual job placement rates and where graduates end up working. The automotive field rewards hands-on training quality and industry relationships more than the credential itself, so those specifics matter more than statewide averages when your child will be competing with graduates from higher-earning programs nearby.