Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Monroe County Community College

A debt load around $11,000 for training that leads to $46,000 in first-year earnings creates breathing room most automotive tech programs don't offer. Based on comparable programs in Michigan, this estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 means graduates would owe roughly three months of their starting salary—manageable territory for someone entering the skilled trades with immediate earning potential.

The earnings picture appears solid for Michigan. Similar programs in the state cluster around $46,000, putting this estimate right at the state median and notably above the national typical of $43,000. The top-performing program in the state (Baker College at $49,000) isn't dramatically higher, suggesting the automotive repair field in Michigan has a relatively consistent pay floor. This makes sense in a state where automotive work remains central to the economy.

The estimated debt here runs lower than Michigan's typical $16,720 for these programs, which matters when you're earning skilled trade wages rather than professional salaries. If these estimates hold, your child would be positioned to pay down loans quickly while building hands-on skills that translate directly to steady employment. The trade-off is accepting that these projections come from peer programs rather than Monroe County's own graduate outcomes, so individual results will depend heavily on which shops are hiring and what specializations your child pursues.