Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Surry Community College

Similar automotive programs across North Carolina suggest this associate's degree leads to first-year earnings around $38,800—solid for a two-year credential, though trailing the stronger programs at Guilford Tech ($45,600) and Central Piedmont ($44,600) by $6,000-7,000 annually. The estimated $11,425 in debt keeps the ratio under 0.30, meaning graduates would owe roughly one-third of their first year's earnings, which is manageable territory for skilled trades where income tends to grow with experience and certifications.

What's harder to gauge is whether Surry's specific program tracks closer to the higher-earning NC schools or falls in the middle of the pack. The statewide range is wide—top programs produce graduates earning $9,000 more than those at the lower end—and without actual outcome data from Surry itself, you're making an educated guess about where their graduates land. The fundamentals look reasonable: debt is modest, the field has steady demand, and peer programs show most graduates can handle the loan payments.

The practical question is whether your student could access one of the stronger-performing programs instead. If Surry is the accessible option—whether for location, schedule, or cost reasons—the estimated numbers suggest it's a viable path into automotive work. Just recognize you're betting on outcomes based on similar schools rather than this program's proven track record.