2026 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
[Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/autobody-collision-and-repair-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 50 schools to find the best return on investment for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,734 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $37,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gateway Community College Central City earned it the #2 place for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Gateway Community College Central City is a small public school located in the city of Phoenix. Students borrow a median of $15,037 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Gateway Community College Central City earn a median of $39,690 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Del Mar College is a large public school located in the city of Corpus Christi. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,500, with out-of-state students paying around $6,050. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $7,476. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $40,661. Set against $7,476 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Trinity Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Athens. In-state tuition and fees average $2,640, compared with $5,970 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $32,623. Set against $12,323 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Philips College earned it the #5 place for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. St Philips College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $3,412 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $15,653. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $45,185. That is a strong return on a $15,653 median debt.
San Juan College came in at #6 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. In-state tuition and fees average $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from San Juan College generally make around $41,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grayson College came in at #7 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Denison, Grayson College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,000, compared with $6,300 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,627 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $42,487. That is a strong return on a $11,627 median debt.
Tarrant County College District ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $15,752. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $50,744 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Midland College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair 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, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. That is a strong return on a $9,000 median debt.
Amarillo College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $10,500. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $44,519. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Laredo Community College came in at #11 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Laredo Community College is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, compared with $5,748 for out-of-state students. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $31,288. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District placed #12 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $10,615. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $40,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville came in at #13 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public school located in the city of Brownsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, while out-of-state students pay about $4,948. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $10,058. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Brownsville generally make around $20,461. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Yavapai College earned the #14 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Yavapai College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,948, with out-of-state students paying around $9,486. Students borrow a median of $14,087 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Yavapai College earn a median of $52,087 early in their careers. Set against $14,087 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Houston Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,460. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $19,223. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technology Center placed #16 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Burns Flat, Western Technology Center is a small public university. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Western Technology Center generally make around $40,264.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center came in at #17 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Shawnee, Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public university. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Gordon Cooper Technology Center earn a median of $47,876 early in their careers.
Meridian Technology Center placed #18 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Meridian Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Stillwater. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $61,765.
Southern Oklahoma Technology Center earned the #19 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Ardmore, Southern Oklahoma Technology Center is a small public institution. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,012 ten years after entry.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center earned the #20 position for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Francis Tuttle Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Students borrow a median of $14,859 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, autobody/collision & repair technology/technician degree recipients from Francis Tuttle Technology Center generally make around $29,418. That is a strong return on a $14,859 median debt.
Mohave Community College placed #21 among the best values for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Kingman, Mohave Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,208, with out-of-state students paying around $7,968. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $14,766. Early-career autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates make about $54,785. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Plains College came in at #22 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,733 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,157 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,788 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of South Plains College earn a median of $30,949 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texarkana College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texarkana College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,476, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Students borrow a median of $6,166 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Texarkana College earn a median of $31,775 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value autobody/collision & repair technology/technician schools. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the autobody/collision & repair technology/technician program here. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $39,866 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Lamar Institute Of Technology came in at #25 for value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,844, with out-of-state students paying around $12,924. Typical student debt for autobody/collision & repair technology/technician graduates is $14,278. Autobody/collision & Repair Technology/technician graduates of Lamar Institute Of Technology earn a median of $50,068 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,278 median debt.
Rest of the Top 44 Best Value Autobody/Collision & Repair Technology/Technician Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in autobody/collision & repair technology/technician:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 50 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
