2026 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in North Carolina
[Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/autobody-collision-and-repair-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in North Carolina
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
For return on investment in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician, no school beat Wilkes Community College this year. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,572, while out-of-state students pay about $8,716. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,125 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $25,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #2. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Students from in state pay about $2,792 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $11,861. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $44,653. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cleveland Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $39,891 early in their careers. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Central Carolina Community College one of the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,711, with out-of-state students paying around $8,855. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Fayetteville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,628, with out-of-state students paying around $8,772. Students borrow a median of $16,909 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Haywood Community College came in at #6 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Haywood Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Clyde. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,580, compared with $8,724 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Haywood Community College generally make around $35,767.
Wayne Community College earned the #7 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Goldsboro, Wayne Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,566, compared with $8,710 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $5,500. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Wayne Community College earn a median of $33,116 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cape Fear Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,748, while out-of-state students pay about $8,892. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $12,388. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Cape Fear Community College earn a median of $42,889 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,388 median debt.
Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute landed the #9 spot for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Hudson, Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,528, while out-of-state students pay about $6,528. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $8,750. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Caldwell Community College And Technical Institute earn a median of $44,734 early in their careers. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Forsyth Technical Community College came in at #10 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Forsyth Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,276, compared with $6,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,378 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Forsyth Technical Community College earn a median of $35,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,378 median debt.
Edgecombe Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Tarboro, Edgecombe Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,784. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $22,153 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $49,528. Set against $22,153 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wake Technical Community College placed #12 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $17,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Randolph Community College placed #13 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Set in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,416 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,176. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $32,198.
Coastal Carolina Community College came in at #14 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Coastal Carolina Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Jacksonville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,512, while out-of-state students pay about $8,656. Students borrow a median of $7,125 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Coastal Carolina Community College earn a median of $37,831 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sandhills Community College earned the #15 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Pinehurst, Sandhills Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $9,238. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Sandhills Community College earn a median of $46,492 early in their careers. Set against $9,238 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Flat Rock, Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,660, compared with $8,804 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,252 in student loans. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Flat Rock earn a median of $42,443 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,252 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College earned the #17 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,320, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $12,476. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Guilford Technical Community College earn a median of $43,934 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
