2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Washington
[Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/automobile-automotive-mechanics-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Washington
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Clover Park Technical College the best value for a degree in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician in Washington. 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. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bates Technical College earned it the #2 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Bates Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,027, while out-of-state students pay about $12,165. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,051 ten years after entry.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at Renton Technical College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Renton, Renton Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,330, compared with $7,768 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,582 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $80,411. That is a strong return on a $18,582 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at Bellingham Technical College, which ranked #4. Bellingham Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Bellingham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,431, with out-of-state students paying around $5,809. Median earnings reach $49,748 ten years out.
A rank of #5 makes Lake Washington Institute Of Technology one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, compared with $12,062 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $60,000. Set against $19,695 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Skagit Valley College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Mount Vernon, Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Skagit Valley College generally make around $44,860. That is a strong return on a $14,056 median debt.
Seattle Community College South Campus placed #7 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College South Campus is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,208, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,486 ten years after entry.
Spokane Community College placed #8 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Spokane Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Spokane. In-state tuition and fees average $5,461, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,722 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $37,713. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia Basin College placed #9 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Pasco, Columbia Basin College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,555 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,668. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,170 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $63,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,170 median debt.
Lower Columbia College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Longview, Lower Columbia College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,626 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,003. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $14,340. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Lower Columbia College earn a median of $53,280 early in their careers. Set against $14,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Walla Walla Community College came in at #11 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Walla Walla Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Walla Walla. In-state tuition and fees average $5,279, with out-of-state students paying around $6,700. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Walla Walla Community College earn a median of $46,131 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt.
Clark College placed #12 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Vancouver, Clark College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,233, with out-of-state students paying around $11,183. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,370 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Clark College generally make around $45,656. That is a strong return on a $10,370 median debt.
South Puget Sound Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Olympia, South Puget Sound Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,818. Students borrow a median of $14,245 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from South Puget Sound Community College generally make around $39,430. That is a strong return on a $14,245 median debt.
Shoreline Community College placed #14 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Shoreline Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Shoreline. In-state tuition and fees average $5,115, while out-of-state students pay about $7,905. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $16,700. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Shoreline Community College earn a median of $62,009 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Big Bend Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Big Bend Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Moses Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,059, while out-of-state students pay about $5,619. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,662 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $47,970. Set against $12,662 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Green River Community College placed #16 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Auburn, Green River Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,711, while out-of-state students pay about $5,263. Median earnings reach $50,712 ten years out.
Perry Technical Institute landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Perry Technical Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Yakima. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,892 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Perry Technical Institute generally make around $36,253. That is a strong return on a $7,892 median debt.
Uei College Tacoma placed #18 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Tacoma, Uei College Tacoma is a small private for-profit university. Graduates go on to earn a median of $30,848 ten years after entry.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 2 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.
