63 accredited programs at 51 schools in California, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. De Anza College in Cupertino, CA has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $64,980.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
63 ranked programs at 51 schools in California: 37 automotive, 5 diesel, 2 collision repair and 19 aviation maintenance.
De Anza College in Cupertino, CA scores highest, 80.6 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $64,980 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in California.
Published prices run from $1,124 a year, in-state (Antelope Valley Community College District) to $43,595 for the 45-week program (Universal Technical Institute-Southern California).
43 of 51 ranked mechanic schools in California are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in California
These mechanic schools in California run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Technology
De Anza College
Cupertino, CA
Score80.6
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Science (A.S.)
Cost
$1,571a year, in-state
Graduation rate
68%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in California
$64,980median, BLS May 2025
Awards
201in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #1 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($1,571 a year, in-state), a 68% graduation rate and 201 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA
Score76.6
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Science
Honda PACT
Cost
$1,180a year, in-state
Graduation rate
48%within 150% of normal time
Awards
171in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #2 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($1,180 a year, in-state) and 171 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional) and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive and Related Technology
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles, CA
Score74.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Automotive and Related Technology
Cost
$1,238a year, in-state
Graduation rate
35%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$54,643median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
251in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #5 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($1,238 a year, in-state) and 251 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
37 ranked automotive programs at 37 schools in California. De Anza College (Cupertino, CA) leads and stands #1 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 80.6. Lassen Community College is the lowest priced at $1,144 a year, in-state, against $44,450 for the 13-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California. Automotive programs are taught in Cupertino, CA, Pasadena, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Hayward, CA, Mission Viejo, CA and Woodland Hills, CA, and 30 more cities. The largest, in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, awarded 588 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $64,980 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in California, $14,360 above the national median of $50,620.
5 ranked diesel programs at 5 schools in California. Universal Technical Institute of California (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) leads and stands #12 of 76 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 65.2. San Diego Miramar College is the lowest priced at $1,146 a year, in-state, against $43,595 for the 45-week program at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California. Diesel programs are taught in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Long Beach, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA and Fresno, CA. The largest, in Sacramento, CA, awarded 119 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $73,950 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in California, $12,180 above the national median of $61,770.
2 ranked collision repair programs at 2 schools in California. Cypress College (Cypress, CA) leads and stands #7 of 59 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 68.1. Cypress College is the lowest priced at $1,150 a year, in-state, against $47,650 for the 13-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California. Collision repair programs are taught in Cypress, CA and Long Beach, CA. The largest, in Long Beach, CA, awarded 65 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $66,860 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in California, $11,970 above the national median of $54,890.
19 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 19 schools in California. Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa, CA) leads and stands #5 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 70.8. Antelope Valley Community College District is the lowest priced at $1,124 a year, in-state, against $37,667 a year at California Aeronautical University. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Costa Mesa, CA, Lancaster, CA, Walnut, CA, Reedley, CA, Culver City, CA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and 13 more cities. The largest, in Lancaster, CA, awarded 592 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $86,100 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in California, $6,230 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 65,420 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in California, a thinner market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $California above.
BLS median pay in California by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$64,980
under $38,180
over $95,280
65,420
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$73,950
under $47,180
over $96,730
20,940
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$66,860
under $41,910
over $97,480
14,050
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$86,100
under $53,860
over $116,690
12,590
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $62,820 (22,330 jobs), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA at $64,210 (7,680 jobs) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $76,030 (7,270 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $77,380 (6,520 jobs) and Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA at $71,300 (3,400 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $67,090 (4,270 jobs) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $76,740 (2,680 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at $83,250 (5,020 jobs) and San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA at $87,560 (1,720 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in California has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in California
Bureau of Automotive Repair states that no license is required to work as a general automotive repair mechanic in California; individual licenses exist for Smog Check and vehicle safety systems work.
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Bureau of Automotive Repair: automotive repair dealer registration.
For 2027, De Anza College in Cupertino, CA has the highest score of the 63 ranked programs in California, 80.6 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in California, the leaders by trade are De Anza College (automotive), Universal Technical Institute of California (diesel), Cypress College (collision repair) and Orange Coast College (aviation maintenance). 43 of the 51 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in California are accredited?
The 51 ranked mechanic schools in California hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive, diesel and collision repair and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in California?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in California earn a median of $64,980, $14,360 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $73,950, $12,180 above the national median of $61,770. These are medians for wage and salary workers in the occupation, not starting pay.
How much do mechanic schools in California cost?
Among the mechanic schools in California with a published price, tuition and fees run from $1,124 a year, in-state at Antelope Valley Community College District (Lancaster, CA) to $43,595 for the 45-week program at Universal Technical Institute-Southern California (Long Beach, CA). The median across the state is about $1,334 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in California?
Bureau of Automotive Repair states that no license is required to work as a general automotive repair mechanic in California; individual licenses exist for Smog Check and vehicle safety systems work. Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the Bureau of Automotive Repair: automotive repair dealer registration.
Sources for California Mechanic School Rankings
U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Completions (awards July 2024 to June 2025, provisional), tuition and fees for 2024-25, graduation rates within 150% of normal time and the institutional directory.
This site earns money from sponsored school listings served by the education ad network Esyoh, which are marked as ads wherever they appear. Schools pay to appear in those listings, not in the rankings: a listing is not scored, and no listing can change a ranking. Rankings come from published records, and program details from each school’s own published pages.
