Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

Spartan College graduates earn nearly $15,000 more than the typical Colorado automotive tech graduate and rank in the 95th percentile nationally—impressive performance for a field where many programs cluster in the $30,000-$40,000 range. With starting salaries around $55,000, graduates earn substantially more than peers at nearby community colleges like Front Range ($36,836) or Arapahoe ($38,845), though Community College of Aurora edges slightly ahead.

The debt picture requires closer attention. At $17,428, Spartan's debt load matches the Colorado median for this program but sits about $5,000 above the national average. However, the strong earnings keep the debt-to-income ratio at a manageable 0.32—meaning graduates earn enough to handle repayment comfortably. The bigger concern is earnings stagnation: nearly zero growth from year one to year four suggests graduates hit their ceiling quickly, which is worth considering against a career spanning decades.

For parents evaluating whether Spartan justifies its cost over cheaper community college options, the answer depends on immediate employability versus long-term trajectory. If your child needs strong entry-level earnings and industry connections, Spartan delivers. If they're equally self-motivated and could leverage a community college into similar opportunities with half the debt, that route has merit too. The data shows Spartan can launch graduates into higher-paying positions right away, but they'll need to advance through experience and certifications rather than credential-driven salary jumps.