Certificate (2-4 years)-7% vs national median356 grads tracked
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians at Ridgewater College
Ranked 18th of 22 certificate (2-4 years) programs in Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$37,398
middle 50%: $29,072 – $46,018
Median · 5 years out
$48,753
middle 50%: $39,945 – $60,432
Median · 10 years out
$55,789
middle 50%: $44,759 – $69,042
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (certificate (2-4 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies graduates at Ridgewater College earn $37k in their first year. Median earnings reach $49k at the five-year mark.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
8.6 yrs
≈ $9,859 total interest
Same major at other universities
Northland Community and Technical College
$53,520 · 5 yrs out
Northwest Technical College - Bemidji
$52,435 · 5 yrs out
Alexandria Technical and Community College
$51,871 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
$51,458 · 5 yrs out
South Central College
$50,493 · 5 yrs out
Pine Technical and Community College
$50,311 · 5 yrs out
Hennepin Technical College
$50,186 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota State College Southeast
$48,852 · 5 yrs out
Lake Superior College
$48,096 · 5 yrs out
Rochester Community and Technical College
$47,270 · 5 yrs out
Minnesota North College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Central Lakes College
$45,451 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Ridgewater College
Science Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$96,257 · 5 yrs out
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$96,257 · 5 yrs out
Science Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$83,557 · 5 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$82,803 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Certificate)
$77,901 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate)
$75,642 · 5 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate)
$72,204 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Associate)
$70,019 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$67,042 · 5 yrs out
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Certificate)
$66,167 · 5 yrs out
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