2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. 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 103 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 the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician in the Southwest Region. Pima Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,920 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from South Texas College generally make around $28,199. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes El Centro College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $8,734 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $37,598. Set against $8,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at Alvin Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $55,057. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central New Mexico Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,112. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $36,594 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Del Mar College placed #6 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,476 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Del Mar College generally make around $40,661. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus landed the #7 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,256, with out-of-state students paying around $5,616. Students borrow a median of $11,110 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Eastern New Mexico University Roswell Campus earn a median of $21,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,110 median debt.
Trinity Valley Community College earned the #8 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, compared with $5,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,323. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $32,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College placed #9 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Clovis. Students from in state pay about $1,592 in tuition and fees, compared with $3,344 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Clovis Community College generally make around $44,390. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
El Paso Community College earned the #10 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,274 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $8,542. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of El Paso Community College earn a median of $29,086 early in their careers. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
St Philips College placed #11 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, with out-of-state students paying around $9,952. Students borrow a median of $15,653 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from St Philips College generally make around $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Juan College earned the #12 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. That is a strong return on a $16,150 median debt.
Wharton County Junior College landed the #13 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,192, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Students borrow a median of $10,916 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Wharton County Junior College generally make around $40,554. Set against $10,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District placed #14 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,752 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Set against $15,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Midland College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,000. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Amarillo College came in at #16 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $44,519 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,615 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,957 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar State College Port Arthur came in at #18 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Port Arthur, Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,770, compared with $8,070 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $33,385 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $78,580. That is a strong return on a $33,385 median debt.
Laredo Community College landed the #19 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Laredo, Laredo Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Laredo Community College generally make around $31,288. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yavapai College earned the #20 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Prescott. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,948, compared with $9,486 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $14,087. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $52,087. That is a strong return on a $14,087 median debt.
Central Texas College landed the #21 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,290. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville placed #22 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,148 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,058 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $20,461. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College placed #23 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Students borrow a median of $19,223 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $38,606. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New Mexico Junior College came in at #24 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Hobbs, New Mexico Junior College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $1,440 in tuition and fees, compared with $2,280 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,986 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from New Mexico Junior College generally make around $52,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pontotoc Technology Center placed #25 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Ada, Pontotoc Technology Center is a small public university. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $44,846.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value ranking:
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Notes and References
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 · 103 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
