Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at York Technical College

The four-year earnings figure here—$35,430—is actually lower than the estimated first-year number of $42,896, which creates an unusual and potentially concerning pattern. While comparable programs nationally suggest automotive technicians start around $43K, the actual reported earnings from York Tech graduates four years out suggest either career stagnation or job instability that's worth understanding before committing. With comparable programs in South Carolina typically showing first-year earnings around $39K, even the estimated starting figure puts this slightly ahead of the state average, but that four-year dip is hard to ignore.

The estimated debt load of $11,425 is manageable for a trade credential—that 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio is well within safe territory if those first-year estimates hold true. The problem is reconciling why earnings would drop $7,000 between year one and year four when most technical careers show wage growth during that period. It could reflect graduates changing employers, leaving the field, or economic conditions specific to the Rock Hill area's automotive market.

Given this disconnect between estimated starting pay and actual mid-career outcomes, you'd want to dig into York Tech's specific placement rates and talk to recent graduates about their career trajectories. The program's low enrollment (hence the suppressed data) might also mean fewer local employer relationships or limited advancement opportunities compared to larger programs like Greenville Tech's.