Vehicle Repair Technology at Parkland College

Champaign, IL · Public · Associate Degree · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

with a smaller student body of 3,293 in Champaign, IL.

Program Analysis

Graduates of Parkland College's Vehicle Repair Technology program earn $51,093/yr in their first year — 32% above the $38,662 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 62.8x 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 1% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

At $7,000 in median debt against $51,093 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #78 of 409 nationally, this is a top-5% Vehicle Repair Technology program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $53,706 are relatively flat compared to the $51,093 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.

70 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
70
Low End
70
Score
71
High End
Earnings $51,093/yr (32% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$541K
1.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
63.1x
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)
$8,568
Out-of-state: $26,532
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,000
1.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,706
5% 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 Parkland 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

Vehicle Repair Technology at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Vehicle Repair Technology at Parkland College?
A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Parkland College's Vehicle Repair Technology graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How safe is Vehicle Repair Technology from automation?
AI resilience is a strength here. Only 14% of Vehicle Repair Technology tasks overlap with AI capabilities, and 19 of 19 career paths remain viable even in our most conservative scenario.
How affordable is Vehicle Repair Technology at Parkland College?
At $7,000 in median debt, Vehicle Repair Technology graduates from Parkland College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.1x is well below the trade program average.
What makes Parkland College's Vehicle Repair Technology program stand out?
Ranked #78 of 409 programs nationally, Parkland College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Repair Technology graduates?
If Parkland 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.
Will Vehicle Repair Technology graduates from Parkland College find jobs?
At 214,000 annual openings, Vehicle Repair Technology has a very large employment base. Parkland 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 →