21 accredited programs at 18 schools in North Carolina, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC has the highest score, and automotive body and related repairers here earn a median $50,520.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
21 ranked programs at 18 schools in North Carolina: 14 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 5 aviation maintenance.
Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC scores highest, 68.8 out of 100 (collision repair).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,200 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in North Carolina.
Published prices run from $1,986 a year, in-state (Durham Technical Community College) to $43,100 for the 12-month program (Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville).
16 of 18 ranked mechanic schools in North Carolina are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in North Carolina
These mechanic schools in North Carolina run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
Score68.8
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate Degree, 5 semesters
Cost
$2,320a year, in-state
Graduation rate
31%within 150% of normal time
Auto body technician pay in North Carolina
$50,520median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$61,074median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #6 of 59 collision repair programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked collision repair programs ($2,320 a year, in-state) and graduates earning a median $61,074.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
Score68.6
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technology Diploma, 3 semesters
Cost
$2,320a year, in-state
Graduation rate
31%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$61,074median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
22in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #6 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($2,320 a year, in-state) and graduates earning a median $61,074.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive & EV Technology (Mooresville, NC Campus Only)
Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville
Mooresville, NC
Score65.3
ASE Accredited Program
Private For-Profit
Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)
Cost
$43,100for the 12-month program (scored as $43,100 a year)
Graduation rate
65%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$60,060median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide, shared by 6 campuses
Awards
574in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #27 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for graduates earning a median $60,060, a 65% graduation rate and 574 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
14 ranked automotive programs at 14 schools in North Carolina. Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville (Mooresville, NC) leads and stands #27 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 65.3. Durham Technical Community College is the lowest priced at $1,986 a year, in-state, against $43,100 for the 12-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville. Automotive programs are taught in Mooresville, NC, Jamestown, NC, Charlotte, NC, Durham, NC, Pinehurst, NC and Winterville, NC, and 8 more cities. The program graduated 65% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 574 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,200 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in North Carolina, $2,420 below the national median of $50,620.
Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC) is the only ranked diesel program in North Carolina, and #6 of 76 nationally puts it in the top quarter, with a score of 68.6. Guilford Technical Community College publishes $2,320 a year, in-state. The program graduated 31% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 22 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $57,490 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in North Carolina, $4,280 below the national median of $61,770.
Guilford Technical Community College (Jamestown, NC) is the only ranked collision repair program in North Carolina, and #6 of 59 nationally puts it in the top quarter, with a score of 68.8. Guilford Technical Community College publishes $2,320 a year, in-state. The program graduated 31% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 17 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,520 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in North Carolina, $4,370 below the national median of $54,890.
5 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 5 schools in North Carolina. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) leads and stands #23 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 63.4. Craven Community College is the lowest priced at $2,022 a year, in-state, against $16,657 a year at Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Charlotte, NC, Jamestown, NC, New Bern, NC, Elizabeth City, NC and Winston-Salem, NC. The program graduated 70% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 101 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $76,980 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in North Carolina, $2,890 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 26,510 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in North Carolina, a denser market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $North Carolina above.
BLS median pay in North Carolina by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$48,200
under $31,500
over $79,610
26,510
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$57,490
under $39,890
over $76,240
11,070
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$50,520
under $36,630
over $83,250
5,180
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$76,980
under $50,970
over $112,050
4,700
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $53,660 (7,990 jobs), Raleigh-Cary, NC at $50,600 (3,650 jobs) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $58,290 (3,560 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $60,300 (3,350 jobs) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $59,200 (1,360 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $55,790 (1,850 jobs) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $60,100 (820 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $78,580 (1,310 jobs) and Greensboro-High Point, NC at $64,520 (880 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in North Carolina has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in North Carolina
State inspection or emissions work calls for safety inspection mechanic license, issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Questions About Mechanic Schools in North Carolina
What are the best mechanic schools in North Carolina?
For 2027, Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, NC has the highest score of the 21 ranked programs in North Carolina, 68.8 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in North Carolina, the leaders by trade are Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville (automotive), Guilford Technical Community College (diesel), Guilford Technical Community College (collision repair) and Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Charlotte (aviation maintenance). 16 of the 18 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in North Carolina are accredited?
The 18 ranked mechanic schools in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in North Carolina earn a median of $48,200, $2,420 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $57,490, $4,280 below 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 North Carolina cost?
Among the mechanic schools in North Carolina with a published price, tuition and fees run from $1,986 a year, in-state at Durham Technical Community College (Durham, NC) to $43,100 for the 12-month program at Universal Technical Institute-Mooresville (Mooresville, NC). The median across the state is about $2,427 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in North Carolina?
State inspection or emissions work calls for safety inspection mechanic license, issued by the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Sources for North Carolina 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.
