2026 Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools in Iowa
[Vehicle Maintenance & Repair](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for vehicle maintenance & repair students.
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2026 Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools in Iowa
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the vehicle maintenance & repair degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Schools
Western Iowa Tech Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools in Iowa. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Students borrow a median of $8,250 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $36,535 early in their careers. Set against $8,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes North Iowa Area Community College one of the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Set in the rural area of Mason City, North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for vehicle maintenance & repair graduates is $6,238. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $47,882. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indian Hills Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Located in the town of Ottumwa, Indian Hills Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $6,120 for out-of-state students. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $13,188 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $50,901. That is a strong return on a $13,188 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $44,896 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,000 median debt.
Iowa Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in vehicle maintenance & repair, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, compared with $7,788 for out-of-state students. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Iowa Central Community College earn a median of $49,556 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Iowa Community College District ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public school located in the city of Davenport. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Eastern Iowa Community College District earn a median of $41,510 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,995 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Creston placed #7 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Set in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,064, with out-of-state students paying around $8,316. Students borrow a median of $15,881 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Southwestern Community College Creston earn a median of $46,106 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar came in at #8 for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Northeast Iowa Community College Calmar is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Calmar. Students from in state pay about $6,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,770. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $43,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hawkeye Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, vehicle maintenance & repair degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $47,762. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Iowa Lakes Community College placed #10 among the best values for vehicle maintenance & repair. Iowa Lakes Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Estherville. In-state tuition and fees average $7,392, while out-of-state students pay about $7,872. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates carry a median of $20,876 in student loans. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $34,586. Set against $20,876 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #11 position for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,624 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $52,325 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,624 median debt.
Iowa Western Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,930, compared with $7,080 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,055 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $47,199 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,055 median debt.
Northwest Iowa Community College earned the #13 position for value in vehicle maintenance & repair this year. Set in the town of Sheldon, Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, with out-of-state students paying around $7,650. Students borrow a median of $11,326 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Early-career vehicle maintenance & repair graduates make about $52,174. That is a strong return on a $11,326 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value vehicle maintenance & repair schools. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Students borrow a median of $16,126 to complete the vehicle maintenance & repair program here. Vehicle Maintenance & Repair graduates of Southeastern Community College West Burlington earn a median of $45,760 early in their careers. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Rankings
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
