2026 Best Value Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/mechanical-engineering-technology/automotive-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong automotive engineering technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 59 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value automotive engineering technology/technician schools.
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2026 Best Value Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the automotive engineering technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among automotive engineering technology/technician schools in the United States. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $16,214. Soon after graduation, automotive engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $62,440. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #2 makes Farmingdale State College one of the best values for automotive engineering technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Farmingdale, Farmingdale State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,626, while out-of-state students pay about $18,536. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $17,409. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Farmingdale State College earn a median of $50,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Weber State University earned it the #3 place for automotive engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,557 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,545 for out-of-state students. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,280 in student loans. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Weber State University earn a median of $64,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ferris State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value automotive engineering technology/technician schools. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the automotive engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automotive engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $66,747. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Indiana State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value automotive engineering technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. Students borrow a median of $26,990 to complete the automotive engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automotive engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $66,479. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #6 among the best values for automotive engineering technology/technician. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $19,187. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $62,503 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #7 spot for automotive engineering technology/technician value this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, automotive engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $64,005. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Pittsburg State University came in at #8 for value in automotive engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $25,000. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Mcpherson College placed #9 among the best values for automotive engineering technology/technician. Located in the town of McPherson, Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,146 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the automotive engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automotive engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Mcpherson College generally make around $42,278. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology came in at #10 for value in automotive engineering technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,940, while out-of-state students pay about $25,680. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $27,000. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $53,234 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Art Center College Of Design ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value automotive engineering technology/technician schools. Art Center College Of Design is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. In-state tuition and fees average $54,170. Typical student debt for automotive engineering technology/technician graduates is $54,124. Automotive Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Art Center College Of Design earn a median of $59,384 early in their careers. Set against $54,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Other Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician Degree Levels
Explore the best-value automotive engineering technology/technician schools at other degree levels:
View All Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 59 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
