10 accredited programs at 7 schools in Ohio, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel and aviation maintenance. University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, OH has the highest score, and bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists here earn a median $60,470.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
10 ranked programs at 7 schools in Ohio: 5 automotive, 3 diesel and 2 aviation maintenance.
University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, OH scores highest, 69.2 out of 100 (diesel).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,710 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Ohio.
Published prices run from $3,249 a year, in-district (Cuyahoga Community College District) to $33,750 for the 15-month program (Ohio Technical College).
5 of 7 ranked mechanic schools in Ohio are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Ohio
These mechanic schools in Ohio run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Diesel Technology
University of Northwestern Ohio
Lima, OH
Score69.2
ASE Accredited Program
Private Nonprofit
Diesel Technology - Medium/Heavy Duty, 24 months
Cost
$13,875a year
Graduation rate
54%within 150% of normal time
Diesel technician pay in Ohio
$60,470median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$58,429median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #3 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $58,429 and 174 awards in 2024-25, among the larger diesel programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
University of Northwestern Ohio
Lima, OH
Score66.1
ASE Accredited Program
Private Nonprofit
Associate of Applied Science, 21 months
Cost
$13,875a year
Graduation rate
54%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$58,429median four years after completing, associate’s level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
458in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #23 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Scores well on graduates earning a median $58,429, a 54% graduation rate and 458 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH
Score63.8
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science, 65 credit hours
GM ASEP
Honda PACT
Cost
$3,675a year, in-district
Graduation rate
41%within 150% of normal time
Awards
147in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #47 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for a price toward the low end of ranked automotive programs ($3,675 a year, in-district) and 147 awards in 2024-25, among the larger automotive programs.
5 ranked automotive programs at 5 schools in Ohio. University of Northwestern Ohio (Lima, OH) leads and stands #23 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 66.1. Cuyahoga Community College District is the lowest priced at $3,249 a year, in-district, against $33,750 for the 15-month program at Ohio Technical College. Automotive programs are taught in Lima, OH, Dayton, OH, Cleveland, OH and North Canton, OH. The best completion rate, 90% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Cleveland, OH. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,710 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Ohio, $1,910 below the national median of $50,620.
3 ranked diesel programs at 3 schools in Ohio. University of Northwestern Ohio (Lima, OH) leads and stands #3 of 76 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 69.2. Owens Community College is the lowest priced at $5,870 a year, in-state, against $33,750 for the 15-month program at Ohio Technical College. Diesel programs are taught in Lima, OH, Perrysburg, OH and Cleveland, OH. The best completion rate, 90% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Cleveland, OH. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $60,470 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Ohio, $1,300 below the national median of $61,770.
2 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 2 schools in Ohio. Sinclair Community College (Dayton, OH) leads and stands #33 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 61.4. Sinclair Community College is the lowest priced at $3,675 a year, in-district, against $5,488 a year, in-state at Columbus State Community College. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Dayton, OH and Columbus, OH. The program graduated 41% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 85 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $80,570 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Ohio, $700 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 22,640 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Ohio, a thinner market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Ohio above.
BLS median pay in Ohio by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$48,710
under $34,110
over $79,690
22,640
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$60,470
under $44,860
over $78,120
14,240
$61,770
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$80,570
under $51,490
over $132,850
2,840
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN at $49,090 (4,520 jobs), Cleveland, OH at $50,260 (4,120 jobs) and Columbus, OH at $56,150 (3,920 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Columbus, OH at $62,190 (2,690 jobs) and Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN at $62,400 (2,300 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN at $85,410 (1,370 jobs) and Columbus, OH at $74,210 (870 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Ohio has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima, OH has the highest score of the 10 ranked programs in Ohio, 69.2 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Ohio, the leaders by trade are University of Northwestern Ohio (automotive), University of Northwestern Ohio (diesel) and Sinclair Community College (aviation maintenance). 5 of the 7 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Ohio are accredited?
The 7 ranked mechanic schools in Ohio hold ASE Education Foundation accreditation in automotive and diesel and FAA Part 147 certification for aviation maintenance, and each met the federal entry bar for the ranking.
How much do mechanics make in Ohio?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Ohio earn a median of $48,710, $1,910 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $60,470, $1,300 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 Ohio cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Ohio with a published price, tuition and fees run from $3,249 a year, in-district at Cuyahoga Community College District (Cleveland, OH) to $33,750 for the 15-month program at Ohio Technical College (Cleveland, OH). The median across the state is about $5,679 a year.
Sources for Ohio 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.
