30 accredited programs at 28 schools in Illinois, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $49,170.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
30 ranked programs at 28 schools in Illinois: 22 automotive, 2 diesel, 1 collision repair and 5 aviation maintenance.
Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL scores highest, 68.2 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,170 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Illinois.
Published prices run from $3,504 a year, in-district (Waubonsee Community College) to $40,550 for the 11-month program (Universal Technical Institute of Illinois).
24 of 28 ranked mechanic schools in Illinois are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Illinois
These mechanic schools in Illinois run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Technology
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL
Score68.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate’s Degree
GM ASEP
Cost
$4,800a year, in-district
Graduation rate
49%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in Illinois
$49,170median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$79,029median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #14 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $4,800 a year, in-district, graduates earning a median $79,029 and a 49% graduation rate.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
Parkland College
Champaign, IL
Score66.8
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Applied Science
Ford ASSET
Cost
$4,284a year, in-district
Graduation rate
32%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$70,208median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
53in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #19 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $4,284 a year, in-district, graduates earning a median $70,208 and 53 awards in 2024-25.
22 ranked automotive programs at 22 schools in Illinois. Illinois Central College (East Peoria, IL) leads and stands #14 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 68.2. Waubonsee Community College is the lowest priced at $3,504 a year, in-district, against $40,702 for the 20-month program at Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose Park. Automotive programs are taught in East Peoria, IL, Champaign, IL, Rockford, IL, Des Plaines, IL, Palos Hills, IL and Sugar Grove, IL, and 15 more cities. The largest, in Grayslake, IL, awarded 370 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,170 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Illinois, $1,450 below the national median of $50,620.
2 ranked diesel programs at 2 schools in Illinois. The best placed is Universal Technical Institute of Illinois (Lisle, IL), #21 of 76 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 61.8. Southeastern Illinois College is the lowest priced at $4,560 a year, in-district, against $40,550 for the 11-month program at Universal Technical Institute of Illinois. Diesel programs are taught in Lisle, IL and Harrisburg, IL. The program graduated 63% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 99 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $64,340 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Illinois, $2,570 above the national median of $61,770.
Illinois has one ranked collision repair program, Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, IL). Its national place is #15 of 59, in the upper half, on 62.9 points. Waubonsee Community College publishes $3,504 a year, in-district. The program graduated 39% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 33 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $52,020 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Illinois, $2,870 below the national median of $54,890.
5 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 5 schools in Illinois. Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL) leads and stands #14 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 66.3. Lincoln Land Community College is the lowest priced at $3,744 a year, in-district, against $39,200 a year at Lewis University. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Rockford, IL, Chicago, IL, Springfield, IL, Belleville, IL and Romeoville, IL. The best completion rate, 67% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Romeoville, IL. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $81,680 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Illinois, $1,810 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 29,510 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Illinois, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Illinois above.
BLS median pay in Illinois by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$49,170
under $34,190
over $91,200
29,510
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$64,340
under $44,760
over $97,670
11,320
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$52,020
under $34,460
over $77,730
5,750
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$81,680
under $46,460
over $130,950
3,370
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $55,320 (20,140 jobs), St. Louis, MO-IL at $58,190 (7,590 jobs) and Peoria, IL at $47,750 (1,040 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $65,680 (8,660 jobs) and St. Louis, MO-IL at $62,280 (2,610 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $52,040 (4,450 jobs) and St. Louis, MO-IL at $63,920 (1,950 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $100,610 (2,090 jobs) and St. Louis, MO-IL at $77,600 (890 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Illinois has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Illinois Central College in East Peoria, IL has the highest score of the 30 ranked programs in Illinois, 68.2 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Illinois, the leaders by trade are Illinois Central College (automotive), Universal Technical Institute of Illinois (diesel), Waubonsee Community College (collision repair) and Rock Valley College (aviation maintenance). 24 of the 28 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Illinois are accredited?
The 28 ranked mechanic schools in Illinois 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 Illinois?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Illinois earn a median of $49,170, $1,450 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $64,340, $2,570 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 Illinois cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Illinois with a published price, tuition and fees run from $3,504 a year, in-district at Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, IL) to $40,550 for the 11-month program at Universal Technical Institute of Illinois (Lisle, IL). The median across the state is about $4,545 a year.
Sources for Illinois 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.
