Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Northland Community and Technical College

Based on comparable automotive programs across Minnesota, graduates from this program can expect to start around $51,000 with roughly $12,000 in debt—a manageable ratio that puts them ahead of most similar programs nationally. The estimated four-year earnings of $53,000 suggest modest wage growth, typical for technician roles where experience and certifications matter more than time alone. While peer programs in Minnesota show a wide range, with Alexandria Tech graduates earning $65,000 and others clustering in the low-to-mid $50,000s, the estimated figures here place Northland near the state median.

The debt picture looks reasonable for a technical credential. At an estimated 0.23 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates would dedicate less than three months of their first year's salary to paying off loans—assuming they borrow the typical amount. This aligns with what other Minnesota automotive programs report, suggesting these estimates track well with actual outcomes in the state.

The catch is uncertainty: with too few graduates to report actual data, you're betting on whether Northland's program performs like the typical Minnesota automotive program rather than the top performers. If your student is committed to the automotive field and prefers staying in the Thief River Falls area, the estimated numbers suggest this won't be a financial disaster. But if outcomes matter most, the schools with reported data in the $57,000-$65,000 range offer more certainty about where graduates actually land.