Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Lincoln Technical Institute-Iselin

Something troubling emerges when you look at the four-year earnings figure: graduates earn **less** four years out ($31,963) than they do in their first year ($42,896, based on national comparables). This backward trajectory is unusual and concerning—most career paths show growth over time, not decline. It could signal high turnover in the field, difficulty maintaining employment, or that graduates struggle to advance beyond entry-level positions. The estimated $17,389 in debt isn't crushing by itself, but it becomes problematic when paired with stagnant or declining income.

The broader context matters here. With 62% of students receiving Pell grants, this is a program serving many families without much financial cushion. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 looks manageable on paper, but that's calculated against first-year earnings—the higher number. If the four-year figure is more representative of long-term prospects, you're looking at debt equal to more than half a year's income, which tightens the financial picture considerably.

For families weighing this investment, the red flag is that four-year earnings drop. Before committing, you need to understand why: Are graduates leaving automotive work? Is the New Jersey market particularly difficult? What happens between year one and year four? Without answers to these questions, you're betting on estimated first-year earnings that may not hold—and a career trajectory that, based on available data, points downward rather than up.