2027 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/autobody-collision-and-repair-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong autobody/collision & repair technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is Lake Land College, our #1 best value for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,415 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Richland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Decatur, Richland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,680, compared with $17,070 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. Set against $9,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $17,616. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $37,457 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Danville Area Community College one of the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,440 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,440. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,470 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Danville Area Community College earn a median of $36,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,470 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $7,500. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $37,994. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
John A Logan College placed #6 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Set in the town of Carterville, John A Logan College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,630, with out-of-state students paying around $7,540. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,479 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $40,806. Set against $10,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakland Community College landed the #7 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,120, while out-of-state students pay about $5,560. Students borrow a median of $15,865 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
College Of Lake County landed the #8 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parkland College placed #9 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #10 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $35,427. That is a strong return on a $8,375 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District placed #11 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #12 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $35,759 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earn a median of $48,264 early in their careers. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College placed #14 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the town of Olney, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,260, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,434 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College generally make around $38,331. Set against $9,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #15 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,709 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University came in at #16 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $12,421 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $51,346. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $46,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #18 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,504, with out-of-state students paying around $10,464. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Waubonsee Community College generally make around $39,659. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $38,091. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College placed #20 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Fennimore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $12,112. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earn a median of $37,745 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,112 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #21 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $37,001 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park placed #22 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Melrose Park, Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,573 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Lincoln College Of Technology Melrose Park earn a median of $34,928 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,573 median debt.
Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis earned the #23 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis is a small private for-profit institution. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,780 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Lincoln College Of Technology Indianapolis earn a median of $39,401 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,780 median debt.
Ohio Technical College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Ohio Technical College is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Ohio Technical College generally make around $34,933. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
