Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville

A Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville automotive certificate comes with an estimated $9,500 in debt—considerably lighter than the $11,000 national median and $11,833 state median for similar programs. With first-year earnings at $36,758, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26, meaning graduates would need roughly three months of gross income to repay what they borrowed. That's a manageable burden for a credential that delivers middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a field where earnings are relatively consistent across providers.

The program sits at the 55th percentile nationally and 60th percentile within Tennessee for earnings, putting it in solidly average territory. Growth to $40,772 by year four represents an 11% bump, which is typical in skilled trades where experience commands modestly higher wages but dramatic salary jumps are rare. Several Tennessee competitors produce stronger outcomes—North Central Institute graduates earn nearly $10,000 more in year one—though TN Tech-Knoxville's graduates still land close to the statewide median.

The advantage here is cost containment. While this program won't catapult your child to the top of Tennessee's automotive technician pay scale, the estimated debt load is low enough that the financial risk remains contained even with average earnings. For a student committed to automotive work and looking to minimize borrowing, this represents a practical entry point into a stable field—just understand that higher-earning pathways exist at peer institutions if location flexibility allows.