8 accredited programs at 5 schools in Idaho, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $48,420.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
8 ranked programs at 5 schools in Idaho: 5 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 1 aviation maintenance.
College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID scores highest, 59.2 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,420 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Idaho.
Published prices run from $3,360 a year, in-district (College of Southern Idaho) to $8,610 a year, in-state (Idaho State University).
4 of 5 ranked mechanic schools in Idaho are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Idaho
These mechanic schools in Idaho run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP)
College of Southern Idaho
Twin Falls, ID
Score59.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science, 66 credit hours
GM ASEP
Cost
$3,360a year, in-district
Graduation rate
33%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in Idaho
$48,420median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$65,164median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #93 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($3,360 a year, in-district) and graduates earning a median $65,164.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Heavy-Duty Truck Technician
College of Western Idaho
Nampa, ID
Score53.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science Degree, 2 years
Cost
$3,446a year, in-district
Graduation rate
31%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$53,739median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
15in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #44 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($3,446 a year, in-district) and graduates earning a median $53,739.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
College of Western Idaho
Nampa, ID
Score52.0
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Basic Technical Certificate, 24 credit hours
Cost
$3,446a year, in-district
Graduation rate
31%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$53,739median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
63in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #196 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $3,446 a year, in-district, graduates earning a median $53,739 and 63 awards in 2024-25.
5 ranked automotive programs at 5 schools in Idaho. College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID) leads and stands #93 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 59.2. College of Southern Idaho is the lowest priced at $3,360 a year, in-district, against $8,610 a year, in-state at Idaho State University. Automotive programs are taught in Twin Falls, ID, Nampa, ID, Rexburg, ID, Pocatello, ID and Coeur d'Alene, ID. The largest, in Nampa, ID, awarded 63 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,420 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Idaho, $2,200 below the national median of $50,620.
Only College of Western Idaho (Nampa, ID) makes the diesel list for Idaho; it ranks #44 of 76 nationally, 53.2 points, in the lower half. College of Western Idaho publishes $3,446 a year, in-district. The program graduated 31% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 15 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,230 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Idaho, $2,540 below the national median of $61,770.
The one collision repair program ranked in Idaho is Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID): #45 of 59 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 47.1. Idaho State University publishes $8,610 a year, in-state. The program graduated 39% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 22 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,200 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Idaho, $5,690 below the national median of $54,890.
The one aviation maintenance program ranked in Idaho is Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID): #140 of 148 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 35.3. Idaho State University publishes $8,610 a year, in-state. The program graduated 39% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 22 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $61,250 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Idaho, $18,620 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 5,030 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Idaho, a denser market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Idaho above.
BLS median pay in Idaho by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$48,420
under $34,570
over $77,710
5,030
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,230
under $45,960
over $77,800
1,930
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$49,200
under $36,610
over $93,040
850
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$61,250
under $44,840
over $98,260
600
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Boise City, ID at $48,630 (2,030 jobs), Idaho Falls, ID at $48,320 (580 jobs) and Coeur d'Alene, ID at $50,910 (490 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Boise City, ID at $60,340 (730 jobs) and Idaho Falls, ID at $58,880 (220 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Boise City, ID at $49,500 (390 jobs) and Coeur d'Alene, ID at $53,580 (90 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Boise City, ID at $62,190 (350 jobs) and Coeur d'Alene, ID at $61,250 (30 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Idaho has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, ID has the highest score of the 8 ranked programs in Idaho, 59.2 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Idaho, the leaders by trade are College of Southern Idaho (automotive), College of Western Idaho (diesel), Idaho State University (collision repair) and Idaho State University (aviation maintenance). 4 of the 5 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Idaho are accredited?
The 5 ranked mechanic schools in Idaho 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 Idaho?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Idaho earn a median of $48,420, $2,200 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,230, $2,540 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 Idaho cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Idaho with a published price, tuition and fees run from $3,360 a year, in-district at College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, ID) to $8,610 a year, in-state at Idaho State University (Pocatello, ID). The median across the state is about $4,123 a year.
Sources for Idaho 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.
