Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at University of Hawaii Maui College

Hawaii's automotive programs show dramatic variation, with similar associate's degree holders at Honolulu Community College earning over $50,000 while Hawaii Community College graduates start around $31,000. Based on national patterns from comparable programs, Maui College likely falls somewhere in this range—the estimated $42,900 first-year earnings represent a typical national outcome but may not capture what Hawaii's unique labor market actually delivers. With living costs in Kahului significantly higher than the mainland, where most automotive techs pay substantially less for housing and necessities, even the higher end of Hawaii earnings could stretch less far than similar wages elsewhere.

The estimated $11,425 in debt suggests manageable borrowing if the earnings materialize as projected—that's a 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below concerning thresholds. But the 20-percentage-point earnings gap between Hawaii's automotive programs means the difference between comfortable loan repayment and financial stress. For families, the critical unknown is where Maui College's outcomes actually land within that range, which depends heavily on whether graduates stay on Maui (where opportunities may be limited) or relocate to Oahu for higher-paying positions.

Before committing, get concrete placement data directly from Maui College: where do their graduates work, and what do local employers actually pay? The program could be solid preparation for Hawaii's automotive industry, but you need real outcome information—not national estimates—to know if it justifies even modest debt in one of America's most expensive housing markets.