15 accredited programs at 12 schools in Kansas, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita, KS has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $80,270.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
15 ranked programs at 12 schools in Kansas: 11 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 2 aviation maintenance.
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita, KS scores highest, 71.7 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,790 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Kansas.
Published prices run from $2,424 a year, in-district (Johnson County Community College) to $17,852 for the 17-month program (Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College).
12 of 12 ranked mechanic schools in Kansas are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Kansas
These mechanic schools in Kansas run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology
Wichita, KS
Score71.7
FAA Part 147
Public
Associate of Applied Science
Cost
$7,238a year
Graduation rate
43%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in Kansas
$80,270median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$71,192median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #2 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $71,192 and 414 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs.
11 ranked automotive programs at 11 schools in Kansas. Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (Wichita, KS) leads and stands #11 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 69.2. Johnson County Community College is the lowest priced at $2,424 a year, in-district, against $17,852 for the 17-month program at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College. Automotive programs are taught in Wichita, KS, Emporia, KS, Overland Park, KS, Manhattan, KS, Kansas City, KS and Topeka, KS, and 5 more cities. The largest, in Kansas City, KS, awarded 72 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,790 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Kansas, $2,830 below the national median of $50,620.
Kansas has one ranked diesel program, Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College (Goodland, KS). Its national place is #34 of 76, in the upper half, on 57.5 points. Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College publishes $17,852 for the 17-month program. The program graduated 73% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 66 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,460 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Kansas, $2,310 below the national median of $61,770.
The one collision repair program ranked in Kansas is Coffeyville Community College (Coffeyville, KS): #46 of 59 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 46.2. Coffeyville Community College publishes $3,600 a year, in-state. The program graduated 38% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 7 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,920 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Kansas, $5,970 below the national median of $54,890.
2 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 2 schools in Kansas. Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (Wichita, KS) leads and stands #2 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 71.7. Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology is the lowest priced at $7,238 a year, against $11,221 a year, in-state at Kansas State University. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Wichita, KS and Manhattan, KS. The best completion rate, 71% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Manhattan, KS. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $80,270 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Kansas, $400 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 6,240 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Kansas, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Kansas above.
BLS median pay in Kansas by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$47,790
under $31,970
over $77,340
6,240
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,460
under $43,610
over $81,000
3,300
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$48,920
under $36,880
over $82,310
1,530
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$80,270
under $50,630
over $98,070
1,440
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Kansas City, MO-KS at $53,790 (5,380 jobs), Wichita, KS at $47,800 (1,330 jobs) and Joplin, MO-KS at $46,320 (590 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Kansas City, MO-KS at $62,570 (2,890 jobs) and Wichita, KS at $57,080 (610 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Kansas City, MO-KS at $60,540 (1,550 jobs) and Wichita, KS at $47,350 (380 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Wichita, KS at $65,640 (580 jobs) and Kansas City, MO-KS at $71,080 (530 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Kansas has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology in Wichita, KS has the highest score of the 15 ranked programs in Kansas, 71.7 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Kansas, the leaders by trade are Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (automotive), Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College (diesel), Coffeyville Community College (collision repair) and Wichita State University-Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (aviation maintenance). All 12 are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in Kansas are accredited?
The 12 ranked mechanic schools in Kansas 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 Kansas?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Kansas earn a median of $47,790, $2,830 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,460, $2,310 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 Kansas cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Kansas with a published price, tuition and fees run from $2,424 a year, in-district at Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, KS) to $17,852 for the 17-month program at Fort Hays State University-Northwest Kansas Technical College (Goodland, KS). The median across the state is about $7,238 a year.
Sources for Kansas 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.
