Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Vincennes University

Vincennes University's automotive program punches well above its weight, launching graduates into $51,465 salaries—$8,500 more than the national median for this field and notably higher than competing Indiana programs. With only $12,000 in typical debt, graduates face monthly payments around $125 while earning solidly middle-class wages in their first year. This translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a year or two of focused repayment.

The trajectory looks solid too. Four years out, earnings climb to $56,145, showing steady 9% growth rather than the stagnation that plagues some vocational programs. While Vincennes ranks in the 60th percentile among Indiana's handful of automotive programs, it's worth noting there are only three options statewide, and Vincennes substantially outearns Ivy Tech's $38,670 median. Nationally, this program sits in the 90th percentile—meaning nine out of ten comparable automotive programs produce lower-earning graduates.

For parents concerned about career stability and quick return on investment, this checks the key boxes: manageable debt, strong starting wages, and skills that translate directly into employment. The automotive service industry isn't going anywhere, and Vincennes graduates enter it with less financial burden and better earning potential than most of their peers nationwide.