2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Wisconsin

[Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/automobile-automotive-mechanics-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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 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 Wisconsin
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 Gateway Technical College, our #1 best value for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician in Wisconsin. Gateway Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Kenosha. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,292. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Gateway Technical College generally make around $44,606. That is a strong return on a $10,292 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $35,702 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Waukesha County Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Pewaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, with out-of-state students paying around $7,046. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $46,398. That is a strong return on a $16,595 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Students borrow a median of $8,375 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $35,427. That is a strong return on a $8,375 median debt.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical 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 rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $37,745. Set against $12,112 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #6 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,960, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $35,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mid State Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, compared with $7,171 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,626. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Mid State Technical College earn a median of $41,678 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College earned the #8 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $9,625 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $46,837. That is a strong return on a $9,625 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College placed #9 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,709. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $41,696. Set against $11,709 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $38,091. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,820, while out-of-state students pay about $7,078. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $36,011 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #12 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $37,001. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.