Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Montgomery College

Montgomery College's automotive certificate appears to offer a more affordable path into the field than its Maryland competitors, with estimated debt of $9,500—well below both the state median of $12,338 and the national median of $11,000. Based on comparable vehicle maintenance programs nationally, first-year earnings of around $35,900 would create a manageable debt burden, with graduates owing roughly three months of their annual salary.

The estimated earnings put this program slightly ahead of Maryland's typical outcomes for automotive certificates ($31,885), though they fall short of the national 75th percentile of $40,190. The schools with actual reported data in Maryland—Lincoln College of Technology and North American Trade Schools—show similar first-year earnings in the low $30,000s, which lends some credibility to these estimates. The relatively low debt figure is particularly important in a trade where earnings don't typically spike dramatically in early career years.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests reasonable financial risk, especially compared to programs that saddle graduates with debt exceeding half their first-year salary. The quarter of students receiving Pell grants indicates the program serves working-class families. However, understand that these figures are based on peer programs nationally—not actual Montgomery College graduate outcomes—so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific program will deliver these results for your student.