Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Rochester Community and Technical College

Rochester Community and Technical College's auto tech program starts graduates at $37,000—below Minnesota's median of nearly $42,000 for these programs and landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. When Minneapolis Community and Technical College's graduates earn $59,000 right out of the gate, that $20,000+ gap is significant, especially since both programs carry similar debt loads around $12,000.

The good news is earnings climb 21% by year four, reaching $44,670, which narrows the gap with stronger in-state programs. The debt burden is manageable at 0.32 times first-year earnings, meaning graduates pay back roughly a third of their starting salary. That's workable for a trade certificate, though not exceptional given the modest starting point.

The challenge here is that Minnesota has strong automotive programs that clearly produce better outcomes. With just 22 schools in the state offering this credential, parents should carefully compare options. If Rochester offers geographic convenience or specialized training your child needs, the debt level won't be crushing. But if flexibility exists, programs like Minneapolis Community and Technical College or St. Cloud Technical deliver substantially higher starting salaries that would justify any additional commute or relocation. The small sample size adds uncertainty—these numbers could shift with more graduate data—but the current picture suggests this program underperforms its Minnesota peers.