2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Tennessee
[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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Tennessee
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
Northeast State Community College earned the #1 spot for value among automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools in Tennessee. Located in the rural area of Blountville, Northeast State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,782, with out-of-state students paying around $17,766. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $6,404. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Northeast State Community College generally make around $39,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville is a small public school located in the rural area of Hartsville. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $5,846 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hartsville earn a median of $43,973 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,846 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Athens, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens is a small public institution. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,925. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Athens generally make around $32,320. That is a strong return on a $9,925 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville earned it the #4 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of McMinnville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville is a small public university. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Mcminnville generally make around $40,469.
A rank of #5 makes Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Memphis is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Memphis. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,106. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $41,268. Set against $10,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro landed the #6 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $10,723 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Murfreesboro generally make around $31,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville earned the #7 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Knoxville is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $10,639 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $36,758. That is a strong return on a $10,639 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro landed the #8 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the town of Jacksboro, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro is a small public university. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,439. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jacksboro earn a median of $23,655 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson landed the #9 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the rural area of Dickson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Dickson is a small public university. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $33,621. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville placed #10 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the city of Nashville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville is a small public institution. Students borrow a median of $14,633 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Nashville earn a median of $36,772 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton landed the #11 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Elizabethton, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton is a small public institution. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,281. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Elizabethton generally make around $27,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson landed the #12 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson is a mid-sized public university. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Jackson earn a median of $32,162 early in their careers. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown earned the #13 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Morristown, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown is a small public university. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Morristown generally make around $33,037. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #14 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the rural area of Hohenwald, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald is a mid-sized public institution. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $33,196. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman came in at #15 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Harriman is a small public school located in the rural area of Harriman. Students borrow a median of $10,601 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $31,598. Set against $10,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Newbern, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern is a mid-sized public institution. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Newbern earn a median of $31,480 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Crossville, Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville is a small public institution. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $6,398. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Crossville earn a median of $21,168 early in their careers. Set against $6,398 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Oneida Huntsville placed #18 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Oneida Huntsville is a small public school located in the rural area of Huntsville. Median earnings reach $31,949 ten years out.
William Moore College Of Technology placed #19 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Memphis, William Moore College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,723. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,194 ten years after entry.
Nashville Auto Diesel College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Nashville Auto Diesel College is a small private for-profit institution. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,780. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Nashville Auto Diesel College generally make around $39,401. That is a strong return on a $12,780 median debt.
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
