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Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $47,286/yr (-28% vs median)

AI Risk Low (14% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (214,000 openings/yr)

ROI 11.1x earnings multiple (8.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #4 of 4 Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$684K	$678K	$642K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.2x	11.1x	10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	9.0x	8.9x	8.4x
Probability of Field Employment	51%	49%	46%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	65	66

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,192

Out-of-state: $76,392 (8.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,804

-22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$77,085

63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Western Michigan University's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates start at $47,286/yr, trailing the $65,866 national average by 28%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 11.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

With only 14% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 6%. Career paths for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

The $26,000 debt-to-$47,286 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

With only 4 programs offering Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies nationally, this is a niche field. Western Michigan University ranks #4 among them.

Earnings growth from $47,286 to $77,085 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Western Michigan University

A 85% acceptance rate means Western Michigan University is accessible to most applicants, serving 12,704 students in Kalamazoo, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Michigan University →

Top Career Paths

Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment $82,730/yr

Avionics technicians $81,390/yr

Aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians $79,830/yr

View all 19 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies at Other Schools

Other Majors at Western Michigan University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Western Michigan University's Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies program score?

A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Western Michigan University trails the majority of Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.

Why are Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies earnings lower at Western Michigan University?

Lower starting pay at Western Michigan University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →