Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park

Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park graduates in automotive repair earn roughly $12,000 less than the typical Illinois program graduate—landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a significant gap in a state where comparable programs at community colleges like Illinois Central ($58,122) and Parkland ($51,093) are producing substantially stronger outcomes. The $37,089 first-year earnings also fall short of the national median by about $6,000, suggesting this program underperforms even against the broader national landscape.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $19,016, it's higher than both state and national medians but still manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51. Graduates should be able to handle these payments, though the math would work considerably better with the earning power students get from Illinois community colleges. The modest 5% earnings growth to $39,110 by year four suggests limited upward trajectory in the early career years.

With 68% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are banking on technical training as an economic ladder. Given the stronger alternatives available at Illinois community colleges—often at lower cost—it's worth seriously exploring those options first. If Lincoln College of Technology offers specific placement advantages or specializations not available elsewhere, that could justify the premium, but the earnings data alone doesn't make that case.