Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Indian Hills Community College

Ottumwa, IA · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 1,635 students in Ottumwa, IA.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Indian Hills Community College's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program earn $50,901/yr in their first year — 32% above the $38,662 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

With a 54.7x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 0% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

At $11,000 in median debt against $50,901 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Indian Hills Community College ranks #90 among 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The 64 apprenticeship pathways connected to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
68
Low End
69
Score
69
High End
Earnings $50,901/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$51K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
54.7x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
19 of 19
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$9,744
Out-of-state: $12,240
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
2.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,784
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies 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 →

About Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Careers

Your career starts on the shop floor, grabbing a diagnostic scanner to pinpoint engine trouble or getting your hands dirty with a wrench during a brake job. As an automotive service technician, your day involves solving complex mechanical and electrical puzzles in a busy garage to get cars safely back on the road. You could also specialize in heavy-duty vehicles, working on the powerful diesel engines that keep our country’s trucks and buses running.

Read the full Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies career guide →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Indian Hills Community College's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program score?
This program scores 69/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates.
Will AI replace Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies jobs?
Highly resilient. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 19 of 19 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Indian Hills Community College?
At $11,000 in median debt, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates from Indian Hills Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
What makes Indian Hills Community College's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program stand out?
Ranked #90 of 409 programs nationally, Indian Hills Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies through an apprenticeship instead?
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies connects to 64 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies workers?
The career paths mapped to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies have roughly 214,000 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →