Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at SUNY Morrisville

SUNY Morrisville's automotive bachelor's program serves a primarily working-class student body (55% receive Pell grants) and keeps debt reasonable at $23,215—well below what many four-year degrees cost. The earnings start at $53,308, which ranks dead-center among New York's limited automotive bachelor's options but falls short of the $67,372 national median. That gap matters: graduates here earn about $14,000 less annually than the typical automotive bachelor's graduate nationwide.

The concerning pattern is earnings that slide backward, dropping 4% by year four. In a field where experience typically commands higher wages, this reverse trajectory suggests graduates may struggle to advance or find themselves in service advisor or parts management roles rather than higher-paying specialized technician positions. The small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) adds uncertainty—a few individuals' career paths could be skewing the entire picture.

For families weighing this investment, consider that many successful automotive careers start with two-year technical programs at much lower cost. If your child is set on a bachelor's degree in this field, the manageable debt here won't bury them, but they'll likely need to hustle for ASE certifications and dealer-specific training to reach earning levels that justify four years of college over entering the workforce sooner.