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Vehicle Repair Technology at Iowa Central Community College

Fort Dodge, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

a compact campus enrolling 3,107 students in Fort Dodge, IA.

Program Analysis

Iowa Central Community College Vehicle Repair Technology graduates command $49,556/yr out of the gate, well above the $38,662 national median. That 28% premium suggests the program's industry reputation carries real labor-market weight.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Vehicle Repair Technology programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 9% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,000 in median debt clears fast against $49,556 in annual earnings.

At #109 of 409 Vehicle Repair Technology programs, Iowa Central Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $55,687 are relatively flat compared to the $49,556 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
67
Low End
68
Score
68
High End
Earnings $49,556/yr (28% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$567K
3.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
52.7x
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 (In-State)
$10,752
Out-of-state: $15,336
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,687
12% 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

What can you do with a Vehicle Repair Technology credential from Iowa Central Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Vehicle Repair Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Repair Technology Overview

View all 409 schools offering Vehicle Repair Technology →

Vehicle Repair Technology at Other Schools

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach ($76,663) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide ($76,663) Ferris State University ($68,791) West Los Angeles College ($65,978) Alexandria Technical & Community College ($65,311) San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($64,326) San Joaquin Valley College-Trades Education Center ($64,326) Minneapolis Community and Technical College ($59,441)

Other Majors at Iowa Central Community College

Dental Assisting ($59,746) Nursing ($56,562) Electrical Repair Technology ($53,083) Allied Health Professions ($50,501) Computer Networking ($43,253) Criminal Justice ($39,121) Medical Assisting ($34,317) Medical Assisting ($34,244)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Vehicle Repair Technology degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa Central Community College's Vehicle Repair Technology program score?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Vehicle Repair Technology field.
How safe is Vehicle Repair Technology from automation?
For Iowa Central Community College graduates, AI risk is minimal. Vehicle Repair Technology rated "AI-Proof" — 86% of the work involves hands-on skills that current AI simply can't perform.
What's the typical debt for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates from Iowa Central Community College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $49,556/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates?
Yes — 64 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Vehicle Repair Technology career paths, including Aerospace Propulsion Jet Engine Mech (Military Only). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Iowa Central Community College.
Will Vehicle Repair Technology graduates from Iowa Central Community College find jobs?
Job availability for Vehicle Repair Technology is strong — 214,000 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Iowa Central Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in IA may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →