Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Owens Community College

The debt-to-earnings fundamentals here look solid. Based on comparable programs across Ohio, this associate's degree appears to cost around $11,425—about $5,000 less than the state median for similar programs—while producing first-year earnings of roughly $42,338. That 0.27 debt ratio suggests manageable monthly payments relative to take-home pay, which matters in a field where graduates typically start work immediately rather than pursuing additional credentials.

What's harder to assess is how Owens specifically compares to its Ohio competitors. Actual reported data from other schools in the state shows a wide range, from about $35,500 to over $46,000 in first-year earnings. The statewide estimate puts Owens in the middle of this pack, but without school-specific outcomes, parents can't know whether this program connects graduates to higher-paying dealership positions or lower-paying independent shops. The technical skills should transfer across employers, but starting wages in automotive technology vary significantly by placement.

For families looking at a two-year investment in a skilled trade, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value—you're likely looking at debt that could be paid off within a few years of full-time work. Just recognize that you're making this decision based on peer program outcomes rather than Owens' actual graduate data, which means there's more uncertainty than usual about what this specific program delivers.