Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Nashua Community College

At first glance, Nashua Community College's automotive program appears to struggle—graduates earn just $29,652 in their first year, placing them in the 5th percentile nationally. But the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers might reflect timing more than typical outcomes. More telling is what happens next: earnings jump 65% to nearly $49,000 by year four, suggesting graduates build valuable skills that translate to significantly better pay as they gain experience in the field.

The debt picture offers some reassurance. At $11,000, students borrow less than the national median, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.37—meaning debt equals about four and a half months of first-year salary. Within New Hampshire's limited automotive training landscape (only four programs), this one ranks at the 60th percentile for earnings, which tells you it's middle-of-the-pack locally even if it underperforms the broader national market.

The core question is whether that dramatic four-year earnings trajectory is reliable given the small graduate pool, or if these specific cohort members happened to land particularly good positions over time. For families comfortable with the uncertainty that comes from limited data, the low debt load means the financial risk is contained. Just understand you're betting on long-term income growth rather than immediate post-graduation returns.