Automotive Technology
School of Transportation Technology
Parkes Automotive Technology Center, Room 126 · (570) 327-4516
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the placement rate of our graduates?
- How much will I be able to earn?
- When should I apply?
- Can I receive advanced placement if I attended an automotive vocational program in high school?
- How are the Penn College Automotive programs different from automotive technical trade schools?
- Do I need my own tools?
Q: What is the placement rate of our graduates?
A: Historically, around 90% of AM and AU graduates report that they are either employed in the field of automotive service or are pursuing additional education five years after they graduate. The demand for trained technicians in the field remains very strong. Most of our students will work in a shop during the summer between their first and second year at Penn College. Many of these students will be offered full-time, permanent jobs by their summertime employers even before they graduate.
Q: How much will I be able to earn?
A: As with any field, our graduates will start out at varying levels of income, depending on a number of factors. Students who perform better in school, in general, end up receiving better job offers. Location plays a big part in how much a graduate will make. Salaries, as well as cost of living, are higher in and around major metropolitan areas. In the most recent graduate surveys, starting salaries for all automotive technician graduates at Penn College ranged from $12,000-40,000 per year, with the average starting salary around $23,500.
Q: When should I apply?
A: The AM and AU programs at Penn College enjoy an outstanding reputation for producing quality technicians for the automotive repair industry in our service area. As a result, spaces in our first-year classes sometimes fill one to two semesters prior to enrolling in an automotive class. You should apply as early as possible in order to get a seat in the program. The beginning of your senior year, or even at the end of your junior year in high school is not too early to apply. The Admissions Office can tell you when the next seat in the Automotive program is available to you. Once you are accepted, your tuition deposit will hold your seat in the automotive program.
Q: Can I receive advanced placement if I attended an automotive vocational program in high school?
A: We do give advanced placement for some first-year courses for students who attend automotive vocational programs in high school, on a case-by-case basis. We will consult with your high school instructor to determine what courses you place out of. You should speak with the Dean of the School of Transportation Technology after being accepted into the program, but before you begin your education here, in order to take advantage of this opportunity.
Q: How are the Penn College Automotive programs different from automotive technical trade schools?
A: Our program is similar to a trade school in the fact that we both prepare you for entry level positions in the automotive field. The cost will be similar. However, as a College that is accredited by the Council of Higher Education, Middle States Region, we are held to higher academic standards than a trade school. As a result, some or all of the courses you take at Penn College (depending on your field of study) may be transferred to another school, should you decide to further your education.
We also offer a wider variety of automotive interest areas, including Ford and Toyota specialization and a two-year degree in automotive service, sales, and marketing that prepares you for entry into management type careers in the automotive field, in addition to the general two-year automotive technology degree. In addition to this, we are only one of a few colleges in the country to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in automotive technology.
We offer a college experience complete with athletics, clubs, events and student activities for a student body of around 6,000 in a wide variety of majors.
Most trade schools have recruiters who are paid a commission for each student who they get to enroll in the school. Our recruitment is primarily by word of mouth. Our successful graduates are the best recruiting and advertising tools we have. While many other automotive schools are scouring for students, we fill our classes year after year, and have a waiting list to get in.
Q: Do I need my own tools?
A: We do require you to purchase your own starter set of tools and a toolbox in which to store them. You will need your own tools almost anywhere you work as an auto technician. [tool list]
Tools may be purchased through the College Store, or you may buy them elsewhere. The College Store supplies industry quality tools at a substantial discount. In addition, we have a list of optional tools that you can also purchase from the College Store at the same discounted rate. These are tools that you will most likely use in the field, which you may want to purchase as a student to get the discounted rate.