Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Pima Community College

Pima Community College's automotive certificate manages to match Arizona's median earnings while keeping debt nearly 22% below the state average—a combination that puts this program squarely in community college sweet spot territory. At $9,125 in debt against $37,826 in first-year earnings, graduates face a debt burden equivalent to just three months' salary, one of the more manageable ratios you'll find in vocational training.

The trajectory here is steady rather than spectacular. Earnings climb 9% over four years to $41,358, which ranks this program in the 60th percentile statewide—respectable but not top-tier. Universal Technical Institute and GateWay graduates out-earn Pima grads by roughly $2,000 annually, though those programs may come with higher price tags. The moderate sample size suggests this reflects real outcomes rather than statistical noise.

For families watching their budgets, this is a practical entry point into automotive work without the debt traps that plague for-profit trade schools. Your child won't be among the highest earners in Arizona's automotive sector, but they'll start working immediately with minimal debt—and in a field where hands-on experience often matters more than credentials. The earning potential is there; they just won't be starting at the top of the range.