Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Texas State Technical College

Texas State Technical College's auto repair program manages to keep debt extraordinarily low—just $7,334 compared to a $13,560 state median—but graduates earn less than their Texas peers right out of the gate. At $33,599 in year one, earnings trail the state median by about $3,500, placing this in the bottom half of Texas programs. For context, top programs like Tarrant County College produce graduates earning over $50,000 annually. The 20% earnings growth to $40,308 by year four helps close the gap somewhat, but this still lags behind what many comparable programs deliver initially.

The debt picture is genuinely strong—that 0.22 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than three months of first-year income. For families worried about financial burden, this matters. Nearly half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program serves working-class families well by avoiding predatory debt loads. However, the tradeoff is clear: you're sacrificing earning potential for debt security.

If your child needs immediate earnings to support themselves or family, this program's starting salary may feel limiting, especially when stronger Texas options exist within the community college system. But if minimizing debt is the priority and they're comfortable with a slower financial start, the low borrowing requirement makes this workable. Just understand they'll likely be earning $10,000+ less annually than peers at top Texas programs for at least the first few years.