Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Washburn University

Similar automotive technology programs in Kansas typically produce first-year earnings around $49,000, which would make this field look quite promising—but the estimated $42,900 for Washburn's program falls notably short of that state benchmark. That $6,000 gap matters in a hands-on trade where Kansas employers are clearly paying decent wages to graduates from other schools in the state. Wichita State's campus technology center, for instance, reports graduates earning over $56,000 their first year out.

The estimated debt load of $11,425 is manageable relative to those earnings—you're looking at roughly three months of gross pay, which is healthy for an associate degree program. Nationally, automotive programs cluster around $12,000 in debt with earnings of $43,000, so these estimates suggest Washburn would be competitive on a national level even if it lags Kansas peers. The question is whether Washburn's curriculum, equipment, or industry connections differ meaningfully from the state programs that are placing graduates into higher-paying positions.

Given the uncertainty around these estimates and the visible gap between this program and top performers in Kansas, I'd want to know why Washburn's outcomes might trail the state average. Talk directly with the program about job placement rates, which employers hire their graduates, and whether recent graduates are securing ASE certifications that command higher wages. The debt picture looks fine, but you're potentially leaving money on the table if other Kansas programs routinely outperform by $6,000-$13,000 annually.