17 accredited programs at 14 schools in New York, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred in Alfred, NY has the highest score, and automotive service technicians and mechanics here earn a median $54,120.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
17 ranked programs at 14 schools in New York: 12 automotive, 1 diesel, 2 collision repair and 2 aviation maintenance.
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred in Alfred, NY scores highest, 64.4 out of 100 (automotive).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $54,120 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New York.
Published prices run from $5,206 a year, in-state (CUNY Bronx Community College) to $31,650 for the 11-month program (New York Automotive and Diesel Institute).
10 of 14 ranked mechanic schools in New York are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in New York
These mechanic schools in New York run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Automotive Service Technician
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred
Alfred, NY
Score64.4
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate in Occupational Studies, 2 years
Cost
$8,892a year, in-state
Graduation rate
55%within 150% of normal time
Auto technician pay in New York
$54,120median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$58,750median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #38 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $58,750 and a 55% graduation rate.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Airframe and Powerplant Technology
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Flushing, NY
Score60.8
FAA Part 147
Private Nonprofit
Associate of Applied Science, 70 credits
Cost
$29,810a year
Graduation rate
39%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$82,928median four years after completing, associate’s level
Awards
174in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #38 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Scores well on graduates earning a median $82,928 and 174 awards in 2024-25, among the larger aviation maintenance programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the FAA school list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
Suffolk County Community College
Selden, NY
Score58.6
ASE Accredited Program
Public
A.A.S.
GM ASEP
Honda PACT
Cost
$6,630a year, in-state
Graduation rate
29%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$72,700median four years after completing, associate’s level
Awards
69in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #103 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $6,630 a year, in-state, graduates earning a median $72,700 and 69 awards in 2024-25.
12 ranked automotive programs at 12 schools in New York. SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (Alfred, NY) leads and stands #38 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.4. CUNY Bronx Community College is the lowest priced at $5,206 a year, in-state, against $31,650 for the 11-month program at New York Automotive and Diesel Institute. Automotive programs are taught in Alfred, NY, Selden, NY, Whitestone, NY, Northport, NY, Delhi, NY and Rochester, NY, and 6 more cities. The largest, in Whitestone, NY, awarded 227 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $54,120 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in New York, $3,500 above the national median of $50,620.
The one diesel program ranked in New York is New York Automotive and Diesel Institute (Jamaica, NY): #74 of 76 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 34.5. New York Automotive and Diesel Institute publishes $42,200 for the 15-month program. The program graduated 64% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 56 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $70,100 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in New York, $8,330 above the national median of $61,770.
2 ranked collision repair programs at 2 schools in New York. The strongest, Hudson Valley Community College (Troy, NY), sits #51 of 59 nationally in the bottom quarter, on a score of 44.7. Hudson Valley Community College is the lowest priced at $6,796 a year, in-state, against $33,800 for the 12-month program at New York Automotive and Diesel Institute. Collision repair programs are taught in Troy, NY and Jamaica, NY. The largest, in Jamaica, NY, awarded 28 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,670 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in New York, $7,220 below the national median of $54,890.
2 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 2 schools in New York. The best placed is Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (Flushing, NY), #38 of 148 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 60.8. Dutchess Community College is the lowest priced at $5,670 a year, in-state, against $29,810 a year at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Flushing, NY and Poughkeepsie, NY. The program graduated 39% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 174 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $102,800 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in New York, $22,930 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 32,020 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in New York, a thinner market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $New York above.
BLS median pay in New York by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$54,120
under $35,470
over $91,490
32,020
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$70,100
under $48,360
over $90,090
13,230
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$47,670
under $37,580
over $81,970
8,530
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$102,800
under $63,380
over $240,310
4,300
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $57,760 (28,420 jobs), Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY at $48,550 (2,590 jobs) and Rochester, NY at $58,530 (2,310 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $75,780 (12,430 jobs) and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY at $63,270 (1,020 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $57,920 (8,150 jobs) and Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY at $47,180 (510 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at $127,140 (5,110 jobs) and Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY at $72,490 (120 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in New York has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in New York
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles: motor vehicle repair shop registration.
State inspection or emissions work calls for certified motor vehicle inspector, issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
For 2027, SUNY College of Technology at Alfred in Alfred, NY has the highest score of the 17 ranked programs in New York, 64.4 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in New York, the leaders by trade are SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (automotive), New York Automotive and Diesel Institute (diesel), Hudson Valley Community College (collision repair) and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (aviation maintenance). 10 of the 14 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in New York are accredited?
The 14 ranked mechanic schools in New York 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 New York?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in New York earn a median of $54,120, $3,500 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $70,100, $8,330 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 New York cost?
Among the mechanic schools in New York with a published price, tuition and fees run from $5,206 a year, in-state at CUNY Bronx Community College (Bronx, NY) to $31,650 for the 11-month program at New York Automotive and Diesel Institute (Jamaica, NY). The median across the state is about $8,825 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in New York?
Repair businesses are licensed or registered through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles: motor vehicle repair shop registration. State inspection or emissions work calls for certified motor vehicle inspector, issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles; that is a separate matter from general repair.
Sources for New York 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.
