2026 Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools in California
[Vehicle Maintenance & Repair](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 95 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools.
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2026 Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in vehicle maintenance & repair, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools
San Diego Miramar College earned the #1 spot for value among vehicle maintenance & repair schools in California. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $43,285. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Skyline College one of the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Located in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oxnard College earned it the #3 place for vehicle maintenance & repair. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #4 place for vehicle maintenance & repair. Cerritos College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norwalk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, while out-of-state students pay about $12,004. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $11,306. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $29,495. That is a strong return on a $11,306 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in vehicle maintenance & repair will find it at College Of The Sequoias, which ranked #5. College Of The Sequoias is a large public school located in the city of Visalia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,394, compared with $9,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,288 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from College Of The Sequoias generally make around $37,749. Set against $10,288 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Reedley College placed #6 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Reedley College is a large public school located in the town of Reedley. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Students borrow a median of $6,500 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $30,520. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Saddleback College placed #7 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Golden West College came in at #8 for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Set in the suburb of Huntington Beach, Golden West College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,380, with out-of-state students paying around $11,628. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $82,984. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fresno City College came in at #9 for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,378 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $37,470. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ventura College landed the #10 spot for vehicle maintenance & repair value this year. Set in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $20,250. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,250 median debt.
Victor Valley College landed the #11 spot for vehicle maintenance & repair value this year. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, with out-of-state students paying around $10,125. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $7,995. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from Victor Valley College generally make around $49,729. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
College Of The Canyons earned the #12 position for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $9,776 in student loans. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. That is a strong return on a $9,776 median debt.
Mt San Antonio College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,384 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $44,391. That is a strong return on a $9,384 median debt.
Pasadena City College came in at #14 for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. That is a strong return on a $9,191 median debt.
Imperial Valley College placed #15 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Located in the rural area of Imperial, Imperial Valley College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,830. Students borrow a median of $6,176 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Imperial Valley College earn a median of $42,617 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,176 median debt.
Gavilan College came in at #16 for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Located in the rural area of Gilroy, Gavilan College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,508, compared with $12,249 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $5,939. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $28,496. That is a strong return on a $5,939 median debt.
Hartnell College placed #17 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $35,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $36,380 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Citrus College landed the #19 spot for vehicle maintenance & repair value this year. Set in the suburb of Glendora, Citrus College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,204, with out-of-state students paying around $10,636. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,065.
Shasta College placed #20 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Riverside City College placed #21 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Riverside City College is a very large public school located in the city of Riverside. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $8,767. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from Riverside City College generally make around $37,102. That is a strong return on a $8,767 median debt.
Chabot College earned the #22 position for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Chabot College is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $8,686. Students borrow a median of $14,122 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from Chabot College generally make around $85,175. That is a strong return on a $14,122 median debt.
Solano Community College landed the #23 spot for vehicle maintenance & repair value this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,170 ten years out. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Las Positas College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Set in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,168, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,088.
College Of The Redwoods earned the #25 position for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,196, while out-of-state students pay about $8,852. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from College Of The Redwoods generally make around $98,703. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in vehicle maintenance & repair:
More Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Rankings
View All Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Rankings >
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 · 95 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
