2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Kentucky
[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 14 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 Kentucky
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
For return on investment in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician, no school beat Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College this year. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,068. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $42,892. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Hazard Community And Technical College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,212 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $18,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Cumberland. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $9,687 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Southeast Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $35,946. That is a strong return on a $9,687 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Somerset Community College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,586. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Somerset Community College generally make around $30,857. That is a strong return on a $9,586 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Owensboro Community And Technical College earned it the #5 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Owensboro Community And Technical College earn a median of $40,462 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,098 median debt.
Big Sandy Community And Technical College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,588. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $33,956 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #7 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Paducah. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,778 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $35,929. That is a strong return on a $10,778 median debt.
Ashland Community And Technical College came in at #8 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Ashland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,485 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $37,826. Set against $13,485 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Maysville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,650 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Maysville Community And Technical College generally make around $37,769. That is a strong return on a $10,650 median debt.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College came in at #10 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Elizabethtown, Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $8,849 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $36,331 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madisonville Community College earned the #11 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $10,985 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Madisonville Community College generally make around $41,084. That is a strong return on a $10,985 median debt.
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #12 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $34,954. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College earned the #13 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,366 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $44,431. Set against $13,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College landed the #14 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,512. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,625. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $43,231. That is a strong return on a $9,625 median debt.
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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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
