[Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/automobile-automotive-mechanics-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 617 schools to find the best return on investment for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician students.
Finding the Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician School for You
Where you study automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Joliet Junior College tops our 2027 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Macomb Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,862. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Set against $9,862 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, compared with $8,936 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $44,653 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,393.
Trident Technical College came in at #6 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Trident Technical College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,546, compared with $8,620 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,116 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Trident Technical College generally make around $50,166. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $43,285. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College came in at #8 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $49,729. Set against $7,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pima Community College landed the #9 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,758. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,375. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Pima Community College earn a median of $45,250 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,375 median debt.
Spartanburg Community College came in at #10 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, while out-of-state students pay about $10,135. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,148 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Spartanburg Community College earn a median of $41,598 early in their careers. Set against $10,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skyline College landed the #11 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Lake Land College placed #12 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,769. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $30,294. Set against $7,769 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Ana College came in at #13 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,196. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $36,380 early in their careers. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College landed the #14 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $8,734. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from El Centro College generally make around $37,598. That is a strong return on a $8,734 median debt.
College Of The Sequoias placed #15 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,394, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,288. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Georgia Technical College landed the #16 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Americus, South Georgia Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,992, compared with $7,202 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,423 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $28,841. Set against $10,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Valley Community College landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $8,099. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $33,224. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Ventura College is a large public school located in the city of Ventura. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Henry Ford Community College landed the #19 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,876 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
Cerritos College placed #20 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
West Georgia Technical College placed #21 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,410, with out-of-state students paying around $5,978. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $40,092 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Texas College earned the #22 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $6,868. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $28,199. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #23 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,068. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $42,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #24 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $15,752. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $50,744. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hillsborough Community College placed #25 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Hillsborough Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,876 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $36,894. That is a strong return on a $7,876 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician:
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Related Rankings by Major
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 617 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 617 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).
[Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/automobile-automotive-mechanics-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
