Vehicle Repair Technology at Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, SD · Public · Associate Degree · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

a smaller institution with 953 students in Mitchell, SD.

Program Analysis

At $44,032 per year, Vehicle Repair Technology graduates from Mitchell Technical College earn slightly above the $38,662 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 31.9x 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 5% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Ranked #219 of 409 Vehicle Repair Technology programs, Mitchell Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $47,853 are relatively flat compared to the $44,032 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.

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $44,032/yr (14% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$484K
2.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
32.2x
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
$15,048
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$47,853
9% 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

Explore what Vehicle Repair Technology graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 409 programs nationwide.

Read the full Vehicle Repair Technology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Repair Technology Overview

Vehicle Repair Technology at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mitchell Technical College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Mitchell Technical College's Vehicle Repair Technology program score?
This program scores 60/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Vehicle Repair Technology programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How AI-proof is a career in Vehicle Repair Technology?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Vehicle Repair Technology work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Mitchell Technical College's score of 60/100 reflects this durability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates?
If Mitchell Technical College'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.
Is there demand for Vehicle Repair Technology workers?
At 214,000 annual openings, Vehicle Repair Technology has a very large employment base. Mitchell Technical College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →