by our College Data Analytics Team
[Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/autobody-collision-and-repair-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong autobody/collision & repair technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 42 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Oxnard College earned the #1 spot for value among autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Cerritos College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Students borrow a median of $11,306 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Clover Park Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Clover Park Technical College earn a median of $42,209 early in their careers. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician will find it at Fresno City College, which ranked #4. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bates Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,027, compared with $12,165 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Solano Community College came in at #6 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,172 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,772. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,170. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverside City College came in at #7 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Riverside, Riverside City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,428, compared with $12,498 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $8,767. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Riverside City College earn a median of $37,102 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yuba College placed #8 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Yuba College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Marysville. In-state tuition and fees average $1,128, compared with $8,208 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Yuba College earn a median of $89,816 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College earned the #9 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Merced College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, with out-of-state students paying around $8,520. Students borrow a median of $9,024 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Merced College earn a median of $45,032 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American River College came in at #11 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Sacramento, American River College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,288, with out-of-state students paying around $12,616. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,105 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $76,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Allan Hancock College landed the #12 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Santa Maria, Allan Hancock College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,786 ten years after entry.
Renton Technical College earned the #13 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $7,768. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Renton Technical College earn a median of $80,411 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bellingham Technical College placed #14 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the city of Bellingham, Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,431 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,809. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry.
Long Beach City College came in at #15 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $1,556, while out-of-state students pay about $12,544. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $38,870 ten years out. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Camino Community College District ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,144, compared with $7,630 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,589 ten years after entry.
Palomar College placed #17 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Palomar College is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Marcos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,354, with out-of-state students paying around $10,650. Median earnings reach $42,300 ten years out.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology placed #18 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Kirkland. In-state tuition and fees average $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Students borrow a median of $19,695 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Lake Washington Institute Of Technology generally make around $60,000. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Los Medanos College placed #19 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Los Medanos College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pittsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Los Medanos College earn a median of $32,581 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Spokane Community College landed the #20 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,722 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $37,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Seattle Community College South Campus came in at #21 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,208, compared with $5,796 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $44,486 ten years out.
College Of Southern Nevada earned the #22 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Las Vegas, College Of Southern Nevada is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,358, while out-of-state students pay about $13,024. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,980 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of College Of Southern Nevada earn a median of $26,635 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Contra Costa College came in at #23 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of San Pablo, Contra Costa College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,602 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $65,024. Set against $11,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City College Of San Francisco earned the #24 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,696, with out-of-state students paying around $14,656. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,332 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of City College Of San Francisco earn a median of $100,031 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,332 median debt.
Hawaii Community College earned the #25 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Hilo, Hawaii Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,204, with out-of-state students paying around $8,340. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $13,170. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $30,809. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician:
This ranking is produced 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 · 42 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.