Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, IA · Public · Certificate

a smaller institution with 995 students in Estherville, IA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,586/yr, roughly in line with the $38,662 national median for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 50.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationally.

AI disruption models show minimal impact on this program's career paths. The gap between optimistic and pessimistic scenarios is just 0% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Ranked #210 of 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, Iowa Lakes Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $34,586/yr (-11% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$362K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.3x
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)
$7,196
Out-of-state: $7,644

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

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa Lakes Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 60/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Iowa Lakes Community College?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies jobs?
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies rates as "AI-Proof" for AI resilience. With only 14% of tasks exposed to automation, the trade's physical demands provide a natural shield against AI displacement.
Can I learn Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 64 registered apprenticeships connected to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates?
With approximately 214,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →