12 accredited programs at 11 schools in Colorado, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO) in Broomfield, CO has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $82,080.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
12 ranked programs at 11 schools in Colorado: 8 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 2 aviation maintenance.
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO) in Broomfield, CO scores highest, 71.2 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $61,280 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Colorado.
Published prices run from $2,258 a year, in-district (Aims Community College) to $37,010 for the 14-month program (Lincoln College of Technology-Denver).
9 of 11 ranked mechanic schools in Colorado are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Colorado
These mechanic schools in Colorado run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO)
Broomfield, CO
Score71.2
FAA Part 147
Private For-Profit
Associate of Applied Science, 23 months
Cost
$20,235a year
Graduation rate
63%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in Colorado
$82,080median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$83,282median four years after completing, associate’s level
Why it ranks here
Ranked #3 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $83,282, a 63% graduation rate and 169 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the FAA school list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO
Score64.8
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Automotive Technology, 70 credit hours
Cost
$4,663a year, in-state
Graduation rate
35%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$54,555median four years after completing, certificate level
Awards
360in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #33 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $4,663 a year, in-state, graduates earning a median $54,555 and 360 awards in 2024-25. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Fort Collins, CO; Westminster, CO.
8 ranked automotive programs at 8 schools in Colorado. Front Range Community College (Westminster, CO) leads and stands #33 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.8. Morgan Community College is the lowest priced at $4,252 a year, in-state, against $37,010 for the 14-month program at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver. Automotive programs are taught in Westminster, CO, Aurora, CO, Littleton, CO, Denver, CO, Fort Morgan, CO and Colorado Springs, CO, and 2 more cities. The best completion rate, 76% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Aurora, CO. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $61,280 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Colorado, $10,660 above the national median of $50,620.
Only Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (Denver, CO) makes the diesel list for Colorado; it ranks #55 of 76 nationally, 49.8 points, in the lower half. Lincoln College of Technology-Denver publishes $37,010 for the 14-month program. The program graduated 71% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 118 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $70,480 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Colorado, $8,710 above the national median of $61,770.
Colorado has one ranked collision repair program, Aims Community College (Greeley, CO). Its national place is #26 of 59, in the upper half, on 56.9 points. Aims Community College publishes $2,258 a year, in-district. The program graduated 40% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 15 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,880 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Colorado, $4,990 above the national median of $54,890.
2 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 2 schools in Colorado. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO) (Broomfield, CO) leads and stands #3 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 71.2. Colorado Northwestern Community College is the lowest priced at $4,594 a year, in-state, against $20,235 a year at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO). Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Broomfield, CO and Rangely, CO. The program graduated 63% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 169 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $82,080 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Colorado, $2,210 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 12,300 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Colorado, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Colorado above.
BLS median pay in Colorado by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$61,280
under $39,550
over $93,830
12,300
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$70,480
under $47,450
over $96,450
4,600
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$59,880
under $38,280
over $97,630
3,120
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$82,080
under $60,960
over $130,160
2,690
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $61,960 (6,340 jobs), Colorado Springs, CO at $60,710 (1,600 jobs) and Fort Collins-Loveland, CO at $61,610 (790 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $72,800 (2,770 jobs) and Greeley, CO at $62,850 (350 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $60,770 (1,760 jobs) and Colorado Springs, CO at $58,940 (410 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $86,830 (1,740 jobs) and Colorado Springs, CO at $79,810 (400 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Colorado has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in Colorado
The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division; Colorado Department of Revenue issues vehicle emissions inspector (certified by CDPHE, licensed by Department of Revenue) for state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
For 2027, Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO) in Broomfield, CO has the highest score of the 12 ranked programs in Colorado, 71.2 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Colorado, the leaders by trade are Front Range Community College (automotive), Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (diesel), Aims Community College (collision repair) and Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology (Broomfield, CO) (aviation maintenance). 9 of the 11 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Colorado are accredited?
The 11 ranked mechanic schools in Colorado 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 Colorado?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Colorado earn a median of $61,280, $10,660 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $70,480, $8,710 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 Colorado cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Colorado with a published price, tuition and fees run from $2,258 a year, in-district at Aims Community College (Greeley, CO) to $37,010 for the 14-month program at Lincoln College of Technology-Denver (Denver, CO). The median across the state is about $4,856 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in Colorado?
The CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division; Colorado Department of Revenue issues vehicle emissions inspector (certified by CDPHE, licensed by Department of Revenue) for state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Sources for Colorado 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.
