Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at UEI College-Huntington Park

UEI College-Huntington Park's automotive certificate falls short of what graduates could earn elsewhere in California. At $30,636 one year out, earnings trail the state median by over $5,000—placing this program squarely in the middle of the pack statewide but well below the national average. Several California community colleges produce graduates earning 50-100% more, suggesting better training pathways exist within reasonable driving distance for most students.

The debt picture offers the program's brightest spot: $9,500 is manageable and matches the state median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 that graduates can reasonably handle. With three-quarters of students receiving Pell grants, this accessibility matters. However, the earnings gap means UEI graduates are paying off similar debt on significantly lower wages than peers at top-performing programs, which translates to a longer path to financial stability.

For families considering automotive training in the Los Angeles area, this program won't close doors, but it likely won't open them as wide as alternatives. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results—this is the typical outcome. Before committing, compare specific job placement rates and employer partnerships with nearby community colleges that consistently produce higher-earning graduates at similar or lower cost.