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Vehicle Repair Technology at Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, IA · Public · Associate Degree · Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies

a smaller institution with 2,528 students in Waterloo, IA.

Program Analysis

Hawkeye Community College's Vehicle Repair Technology graduates start at $47,762/yr — above the $38,662 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 40.8x 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 3% — this trade's hands-on core resists automation.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,000 in median debt clears fast against $47,762 in annual earnings.

At #157 of 409 Vehicle Repair Technology programs, Hawkeye Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $51,252 are relatively flat compared to the $47,762 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.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
64
Score
65
High End
Earnings $47,762/yr (24% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$518K
1.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
41.0x
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)
$12,616
Out-of-state: $13,196
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,252
7% 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

Vehicle Repair Technology opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

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 Hawkeye Community College

Nursing ($58,835) Allied Health Professions ($55,987) Criminal Justice ($49,572) Agricultural Business ($47,472) Precision Metalworking ($45,509) Carpentry ($44,602) Computer Networking ($40,873) Medical Assisting ($39,614)

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

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Vehicle Repair Technology at Hawkeye Community College?
At 64/100, Hawkeye Community College's Vehicle Repair Technology program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Is Vehicle Repair Technology from Hawkeye Community College a future-proof career choice?
Highly resilient. Vehicle Repair Technology careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Hawkeye Community College graduates retain 19 of 19 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
How affordable is Vehicle Repair Technology at Hawkeye Community College?
Median debt of just $12,000 against $47,762/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.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Vehicle Repair Technology program at Hawkeye Community College?
There are 64 registered apprenticeships connected to Vehicle Repair Technology occupations, such as Aerospace Propulsion Jet Engine Mech (Military Only) and Air Conditioning Mechanic (Auto Serv). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Vehicle Repair Technology workers?
With approximately 214,000 annual openings across mapped careers, Vehicle Repair Technology offers a very large employment pool. Hawkeye Community College graduates enter a market shaped by infrastructure investment and steady replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →