2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Kansas
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 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 Kansas
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
Hutchinson Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools in Kansas. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $42,285. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned it the #2 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,175. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 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 Salina Area Technical College, which ranked #3. Salina Area Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Salina. Students from in state pay about $7,128 in tuition and fees. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Salina Area Technical College generally make around $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coffeyville Community College earned it the #4 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Coffeyville Community College is a small public school located in the town of Coffeyville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,600, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Coffeyville Community College generally make around $45,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cowley County Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $6,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,312. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $34,099. That is a strong return on a $9,312 median debt.
Pratt Community College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Pratt, Pratt Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $4,936. Students borrow a median of $10,327 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Pratt Community College earn a median of $61,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wichita Area Technical College earned the #7 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,237. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,000 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $51,665. Set against $13,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Highland Community College Highland ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Highland, Highland Community College Highland is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,495. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,000. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Highland Community College Highland earn a median of $22,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Manhattan Area Technical College came in at #9 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Manhattan Area Technical College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,844. Students borrow a median of $15,499 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Manhattan Area Technical College earn a median of $43,205 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,499 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College landed the #10 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Northwest Kansas Technical College generally make around $41,638.
Washburn Institute Of Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,880. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,000. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $35,875. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College came in at #12 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Students borrow a median of $13,532 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $46,473. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
Kansas City Kansas Community College earned the #13 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Kansas City Kansas Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,996, compared with $6,482 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $4,849 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $36,954. Set against $4,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Flint Hills Technical College placed #14 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Emporia, Flint Hills Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,944. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $14,690. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $40,435. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central Kansas Technical College landed the #15 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,928 ten years after entry.
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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 · 20 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.
