Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Southwest Texas Junior College

Uvalde, TX · Public · Certificate

a compact campus enrolling 3,170 students in Uvalde, TX.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $21,826/yr fall 44% below the $38,662 national median for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 137.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 14% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates.

At #200 of 409 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs, Southwest Texas Junior College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $40,290 show a 85% jump from the $21,826 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

61 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
61
Score
62
High End
Earnings $21,826/yr (-44% vs median)
AI-Proof AI-Proof (86% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$383K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
144.8x
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)
$2,646
Out-of-state: $6,294
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$40,290
85% 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

Other Majors at Southwest Texas Junior College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 61/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Southwest Texas Junior College?
This program scores 61/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates.
How AI-proof is a career in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies?
Highly resilient. Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies careers are fundamentally hands-on — they require physical presence and manual skill that AI cannot replicate. Graduates retain 19 of 19 viable career paths even under conservative assumptions.
Can you still earn well with Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies from Southwest Texas Junior College?
Lower starting pay at Southwest Texas Junior College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies?
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.
Is there demand for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies workers?
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 →