Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Middle Georgia State University

Middle Georgia State's automotive program produces graduates earning nearly $38,000 in their first year—about $3,000 above both the national and Georgia medians for this field. Among Georgia's 25 automotive programs, this places solidly in the 60th percentile, though it trails technical colleges like Central Georgia Tech and West Georgia Tech by $2,000-$4,500 annually. The $11,000 debt load matches national and state norms, yielding a manageable 0.29 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than larger programs. The 100% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest Middle Georgia State serves a broad population, which likely contributes to the program's relatively average performance. For a student specifically interested in a four-year institution rather than a technical college, this certificate delivers reasonable value. However, families prioritizing maximum first-year earnings should examine the technical college options, where graduates consistently earn $2,000-$5,000 more right out of the gate—a meaningful difference when starting salaries are in the upper $30,000s.