2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 46 schools to find the best return on investment for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Texas
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
Leading the list is South Texas College, our #1 best value for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician in Texas. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $28,199 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at El Centro College, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, with out-of-state students paying around $6,900. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,734 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $37,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at Alvin Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,600 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Trinity Valley Community College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of Athens, Trinity Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,640, while out-of-state students pay about $5,970. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,323 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $32,623. That is a strong return on a $12,323 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes St Philips College one of the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Philips College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $45,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Del Mar College earned the #6 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Corpus Christi, Del Mar College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,500, compared with $6,050 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,476. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Del Mar College earn a median of $40,661 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College came in at #7 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,274, compared with $5,314 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,542 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. Set against $8,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wharton County Junior College placed #8 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of Wharton, Wharton County Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $3,192 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,904. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,916. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $40,554. Set against $10,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District placed #9 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. In-state tuition and fees average $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $15,752. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $50,744. Set against $15,752 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lamar State College Port Arthur landed the #10 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Lamar State College Port Arthur is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Port Arthur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,770, with out-of-state students paying around $8,070. 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.
Midland College earned the #11 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College earned the #12 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,500. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Amarillo College earn a median of $44,519 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Laredo Community College earned the #13 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician 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, while out-of-state students pay about $5,748. 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 $31,288. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District came in at #14 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,615 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $40,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,615 median debt.
The University Of Texas At Brownsville ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Brownsville, The University Of Texas At Brownsville is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,148, compared with $4,948 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,058. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of The University Of Texas At Brownsville earn a median of $20,461 early in their careers. Set against $10,058 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College placed #16 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Houston Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $19,223. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $38,606 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,223 median debt.
South Plains College placed #18 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Levelland, South Plains College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,733, while out-of-state students pay about $5,157. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $13,788. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from South Plains College generally make around $30,949. Set against $13,788 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texarkana College placed #19 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Texarkana College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Texarkana. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,476, compared with $5,332 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,166 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Texarkana College generally make around $31,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hill College placed #20 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Hill College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hillsboro. In-state tuition and fees average $2,862. Students borrow a median of $12,302 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Hill College earn a median of $39,212 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College landed the #21 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,734 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $44,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lee College landed the #22 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,520, with out-of-state students paying around $5,045. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $10,941. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $53,448. That is a strong return on a $10,941 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College placed #23 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $39,866. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
Northeast Texas Community College came in at #24 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Mount Pleasant, Northeast Texas Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,980, while out-of-state students pay about $5,620. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,089 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Northeast Texas Community College generally make around $37,839. That is a strong return on a $15,089 median debt.
Southwest Texas Junior College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Southwest Texas Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Uvalde. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,646, while out-of-state students pay about $6,294. Students borrow a median of $7,157 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Southwest Texas Junior College generally make around $21,826. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year:
More Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Rankings >
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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
