Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at New York Automotive and Diesel Institute

New York Automotive and Diesel Institute's automotive technology program produces graduates who earn about what you'd expect—$43,046 is essentially the state and national median for this field. What stands out is the debt picture: at $20,674, graduates here borrow nearly twice the national typical amount ($12,000) and almost double what students at other New York programs take on ($11,562). This puts the school in the 95th percentile nationally for debt, meaning only 5% of similar programs saddle students with more borrowing.

The numbers still work mathematically—graduates earn roughly twice what they owe—but competing programs in New York deliver similar outcomes with half the debt burden. SUNY Morrisville grads earn $4,000 more annually, while Hudson Valley and Monroe Community College graduates hit comparable earnings with far less financial strain. The high Pell grant percentage (65%) suggests many students here come from low-income backgrounds, making that extra $8,000-$10,000 in debt particularly consequential.

For families comfortable with the higher borrowing or who have specific reasons to choose this institute, the earnings are solid and typical for automotive work. But most parents should ask why their child would pay double the debt for median outcomes when nearby community colleges offer better value for the same career path.