Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Iowa Western Community College

Council Bluffs, IA · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 3,029 in Council Bluffs, IA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,852/yr, edging above the $38,662 national average for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

With a 39.6x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 10% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most careers in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies involve physical, hands-on work that current AI cannot replicate.

At $13,000 in median debt against $46,852 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #158 ranking among 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs places Iowa Western Community College in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The limited growth from $46,852 to $53,297 over five years suggests earnings in this trade plateau relatively early in one's career.

The 64 apprenticeship pathways connected to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
64
Score
64
High End
Earnings $46,852/yr (21% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$544K
3.3% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
40.1x
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)
$13,560
Out-of-state: $13,860
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,000
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,297
14% growth from Year 1

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Iowa Western Community College's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program score?
At 64/100, Iowa Western Community College's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
How safe is Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies from automation?
This is one of the more automation-resistant trades. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies work requires physical skill and on-site presence — qualities AI cannot provide. Our model rates it "AI-Proof" overall.
What's the typical debt for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates from Iowa Western Community College?
At $13,000 in median debt, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates from Iowa Western Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates?
Yes — 64 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies career paths, including Aerospace Propulsion Jet Engine Mech (Military Only). Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies workers?
The career paths mapped to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies have roughly 214,000 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →