7 accredited programs at 4 schools in Nebraska, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel and collision repair. Metropolitan Community College Area in Omaha, NE has the highest score, and automotive body and related repairers here earn a median $54,130.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
7 ranked programs at 4 schools in Nebraska: 4 automotive, 2 diesel and 1 collision repair.
Metropolitan Community College Area in Omaha, NE scores highest, 66.3 out of 100 (collision repair).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,560 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Nebraska.
Published prices run from $3,360 a year, in-state (Central Community College) to $3,840 a year, in-state (Northeast Community College).
4 of 4 ranked mechanic schools in Nebraska are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Nebraska
These mechanic schools in Nebraska run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Auto Collision Technology
Metropolitan Community College Area
Omaha, NE
Score66.3
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Certificate of Achievement
Cost
$3,375a year, in-state
Graduation rate
29%within 150% of normal time
Auto body technician pay in Nebraska
$54,130median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$52,060median one year after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #8 of 59 collision repair programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked collision repair programs ($3,375 a year, in-state), graduates earning a median $52,060 and 60 awards in 2024-25, among the larger collision repair programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, NE
Score65.0
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science, 2 years
Mopar CAP
Cost
$3,840a year, in-state
Graduation rate
56%within 150% of normal time
Awards
71in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #32 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($3,840 a year, in-state) and a 56% graduation rate.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional) and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Diesel Technology - Truck
Southeast Community College Area
Lincoln, NE
Score64.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
A.A.S., 70 credit hours
John Deere TECH
Cost
$3,690a year, in-state
Graduation rate
38%within 150% of normal time
Awards
70in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #15 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Stands out for a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($3,690 a year, in-state) and 70 awards in 2024-25.
4 ranked automotive programs at 4 schools in Nebraska. Northeast Community College (Norfolk, NE) leads and stands #32 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 65.0. Central Community College is the lowest priced at $3,360 a year, in-state, against $3,840 a year, in-state at Northeast Community College. Automotive programs are taught in Norfolk, NE, Grand Island, NE, Lincoln, NE and Omaha, NE. The largest, in Omaha, NE, awarded 207 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,560 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Nebraska, $60 below the national median of $50,620.
2 ranked diesel programs at 2 schools in Nebraska. Southeast Community College Area (Lincoln, NE) leads and stands #15 of 76 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.2. Metropolitan Community College Area is the lowest priced at $3,375 a year, in-state, against $3,690 a year, in-state at Southeast Community College Area. Diesel programs are taught in Lincoln, NE and Omaha, NE. The program graduated 38% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 70 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,140 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Nebraska, $2,630 below the national median of $61,770.
Metropolitan Community College Area (Omaha, NE) is the only ranked collision repair program in Nebraska, and #8 of 59 nationally puts it in the top quarter, with a score of 66.3. Metropolitan Community College Area publishes $3,375 a year, in-state. The program graduated 29% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 60 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $54,130 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Nebraska, $760 below the national median of $54,890.
BLS counts 4,560 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Nebraska, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Nebraska above.
BLS median pay in Nebraska by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$50,560
under $36,770
over $79,990
4,560
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,140
under $44,010
over $79,400
2,720
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$54,130
under $36,860
over $72,730
1,120
$54,890
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Omaha, NE-IA at $54,230 (2,250 jobs), Lincoln, NE at $49,500 (770 jobs) and Sioux City, IA-NE-SD at $54,230 (330 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Omaha, NE-IA at $60,960 (1,120 jobs) and Lincoln, NE at $59,570 (410 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Omaha, NE-IA at $56,310 (540 jobs) and Lincoln, NE at $55,730 (160 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Nebraska has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Metropolitan Community College Area in Omaha, NE has the highest score of the 7 ranked programs in Nebraska, 66.3 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Nebraska, the leaders by trade are Northeast Community College (automotive), Southeast Community College Area (diesel) and Metropolitan Community College Area (collision repair). All four are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in Nebraska are accredited?
The 4 ranked mechanic schools in Nebraska hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive, diesel and collision repair, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in Nebraska?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Nebraska earn a median of $50,560, $60 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,140, $2,630 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 Nebraska cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Nebraska with a published price, tuition and fees run from $3,360 a year, in-state at Central Community College (Grand Island, NE) to $3,840 a year, in-state at Northeast Community College (Norfolk, NE). The median across the state is about $3,375 a year.
Sources for Nebraska 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.
