Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College's automotive program stands at the Texas median for starting pay ($38,506), but delivers something more valuable: strong earnings momentum that lifts graduates well above most competitors by year four. While the initial salary trails top Texas programs like Tarrant County College by $12,000, this gap narrows substantially as graduates gain experience, with median earnings jumping 38% to $53,126—eventually surpassing several higher-starting alternatives.

The debt picture is notably favorable. At $10,543, graduates owe about $7,000 less than the typical Texas automotive student and roughly half the national benchmark. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, meaning most graduates can realistically pay off their loans within their first year of work. For a program serving a substantial number of Pell-eligible students (45%), this accessible debt load matters significantly.

The tradeoff is clear: you're accepting below-national-average starting pay (28th percentile) in exchange for manageable debt and solid advancement potential. If your child is patient and willing to build experience, this program delivers strong mid-term returns. But if immediate post-graduation earnings are the priority—perhaps to quickly tackle living expenses or other obligations—the higher-paying Texas programs deserve consideration despite their steeper debt burdens.