Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Los Angeles Trade Technical College

The four-year earnings figure of $25,290 creates immediate concern—it's substantially lower than the estimated first-year earnings of $39,836 based on comparable California programs. This backward trajectory is unusual for skilled trades and suggests either data anomalies from small sample sizes or significant employment disruptions among graduates tracked over time. For context, automotive programs at technical institutes across California typically see graduates earning $39,000-$40,000 early in their careers, with steady growth as mechanics build experience and certifications.

The estimated debt load of $11,425 is actually more manageable than the $18,788 state median and well below the $12,000 national median, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.30 if first-year earnings align with peer programs. This is solid for an associate degree, particularly at a community college serving a population where nearly a third receive Pell grants. However, that reasonable debt picture only makes sense if graduates actually achieve earnings similar to other California automotive programs—and the four-year data doesn't support that assumption.

Before committing, examine completion rates and job placement figures directly from the college. The suppressed earnings data means we're working blind on actual outcomes for this specific program. If LA Trade Tech's automotive program consistently places graduates in dealership or fleet maintenance positions, it could match the peer estimates. If not, that $25,290 figure might be closer to reality, making this a questionable investment even at community college prices.