2026 Best Value Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Minnesota
[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. 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 Minnesota
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
Riverland Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools in Minnesota. Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Riverland Community College earn a median of $49,194 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,732 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician will find it at Century College, which ranked #2. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. Students from in state pay about $6,214 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $21,332. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Century College earn a median of $35,241 early in their careers. Set against $21,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,565 in student loans. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $49,838. That is a strong return on a $11,565 median debt.
Pine Technical College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Pine City. Students from in state pay about $4,738 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $22,454. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of $44,905 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ridgewater College earned it the #5 place for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,885. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Ridgewater College earn a median of $38,001 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College landed the #6 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $48,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Dakota County Technical College placed #7 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Students from in state pay about $6,679 in tuition and fees. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $51,116. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,000. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $49,157 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,491. 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 $39,165. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,326 in tuition and fees. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Saint Paul College A Community And Technical College earn a median of $38,210 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Anoka Technical College came in at #11 for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Anoka, Anoka Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,267 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $18,408. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $44,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician schools. Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Brainerd. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,249. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of $41,672 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rochester Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Rochester, Rochester Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,389. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Rochester Community And Technical College generally make around $37,029. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northland Community And Technical College placed #14 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Set in the town of Thief River Falls, Northland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,289. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $11,302. Early-career automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $43,254. Set against $11,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical earned the #15 position for value in automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,432. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $22,522. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Minnesota State College Southeast Technical generally make around $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Superior College placed #16 among the best values for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician. Located in the city of Duluth, Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,785. Students borrow a median of $15,721 to complete the automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician program here. Automobile/automotive Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Lake Superior College earn a median of $40,548 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dunwoody College Of Technology landed the #17 spot for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,477. Typical student debt for automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, automobile/automotive mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $45,469. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 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.
