Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Passaic County Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 suggests manageable borrowing, but national peer data tells only part of the story for automotive technology programs. Similar associate programs across the country produce first-year earnings around $43,000, which translates to roughly $21 per hour—decent entry pay for skilled trades, though New Jersey's higher cost of living complicates the picture. The estimated $11,425 in debt sits slightly below what comparable programs typically generate, which matters when you're starting a career in a field where advancement often depends on building experience and accumulating certifications rather than immediate salary jumps.

What's harder to gauge without program-specific outcomes is how well Passaic County Community College connects students to New Jersey's automotive employer network. The state has five schools offering this credential, but none report sufficient graduate data for direct comparison. That leaves parents weighing whether this particular program delivers strong shop training, industry connections, and ASE certification preparation—factors that dramatically affect whether graduates land positions at dealerships versus independent shops, and whether they earn closer to $35,000 or $50,000. The underlying fundamentals look reasonable based on national patterns, but confirm that the program maintains updated equipment and has relationships with regional employers who actually hire their graduates.