Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Lincoln Technical Institute-Union

Lincoln Technical Institute-Union's automotive program delivers solid, middle-of-the-pack performance that should give families confidence in the investment. With first-year earnings of $35,905 and manageable debt of $13,560, graduates enter the workforce with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.38—meaning they owe less than four months of their annual salary. This puts the program in the 30th percentile nationally for debt burden, which is excellent news for families worried about student loans.

The program performs modestly better than the New Jersey average, ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's 15 automotive programs. While it doesn't crack the top tier like Universal Technical Institute-Bloomfield ($40,469), it matches the earnings of Lincoln Tech's other New Jersey locations and delivers steady 17% earnings growth by year four. The $42,123 four-year median suggests graduates build valuable experience and advance in their careers.

For families considering this path, the numbers paint a reassuring picture: reasonable debt, immediate employability, and steady income growth in a field with consistent demand. With over half the students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves working-class families well, offering a practical route to middle-class earnings without the debt burden of a four-year degree.