Vehicle Repair Technology at Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Brainerd, MN · Public · Certificate · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

with a smaller student body of 1,486 in Brainerd, MN.

Program Analysis

Central Lakes College-Brainerd's Vehicle Repair Technology graduates start at $41,672/yr — above the $38,662 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 90.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Vehicle Repair Technology programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Vehicle Repair Technology's career paths, with 14% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 25% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $6,500 in median debt clears fast against $41,672 in annual earnings.

At #63 of 409 nationally, this is a top-5% Vehicle Repair Technology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $41,672 to $55,050 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

Vehicle Repair Technology offers 64 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
71
Score
72
High End
Earnings $41,672/yr (8% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$581K
7.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
93.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
19 of 19
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$6,209
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,500
1.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,050
32% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment $82,730 +6.1% 76%
Avionics technicians $81,390 +8.2% 76%
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830 +8.1% 68%
Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
$82,730
+6.1% growth 76% AI-proof
Avionics technicians
$81,390
+8.2% growth 76% AI-proof
Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians
$79,830
+8.1% growth 68% AI-proof

View all 19 career paths with full salary data →

Vehicle Repair Technology Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Vehicle Repair Technology — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Central Lakes College-Brainerd and 408 other schools.

Read the full Vehicle Repair Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Repair Technology Overview

Vehicle Repair Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Vehicle Repair Technology at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Central Lakes College-Brainerd's Vehicle Repair Technology graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Vehicle Repair Technology from automation?
Highly resilient. Vehicle Repair Technology careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates retain 19 of 19 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Vehicle Repair Technology at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Median debt of just $6,500 against $41,672/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd one of the best schools for Vehicle Repair Technology?
Among 409 Vehicle Repair Technology programs, Central Lakes College-Brainerd's #63 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Can I learn Vehicle Repair Technology through an apprenticeship instead of Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
If Central Lakes College-Brainerd's tuition gives you pause, consider that 64 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Repair Technology. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
How many job openings are there for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates?
The career paths mapped to Vehicle Repair Technology have roughly 214,000 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →