11 accredited programs at 9 schools in South Carolina, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Greenville Technical College in Greenville, SC has the highest score, and automotive body and related repairers here earn a median $53,290.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
11 ranked programs at 9 schools in South Carolina: 8 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 1 aviation maintenance.
Greenville Technical College in Greenville, SC scores highest, 62.2 out of 100 (collision repair).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,100 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in South Carolina.
Published prices run from $4,546 a year, in-district (Trident Technical College) to $8,036 a year, in-district (York Technical College).
9 of 9 ranked mechanic schools in South Carolina are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in South Carolina
These mechanic schools in South Carolina run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Auto Body Repair
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC
Score62.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Certificate in Applied Science, 33 credit hours
Cost
$5,495a year, in-district
Graduation rate
21%within 150% of normal time
Auto body technician pay in South Carolina
$53,290median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$58,645median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #16 of 59 collision repair programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked collision repair programs ($5,495 a year, in-district) and graduates earning a median $58,645.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Technology
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg, SC
Score58.5
ASE Accredited Program
Public
AAS
Ford ASSET
Cost
$5,071a year, in-district
Graduation rate
28%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$67,466median four years after completing, associate’s level
Awards
34in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #105 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $5,071 a year, in-district, graduates earning a median $67,466 and 34 awards in 2024-25.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Diesel Equipment Technology
Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC
Score57.9
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Certificate in Applied Science, 36 credit hours
Cost
$5,495a year, in-district
Graduation rate
21%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$58,645median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
28in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #32 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Stands out for a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($5,495 a year, in-district) and graduates earning a median $58,645.
8 ranked automotive programs at 8 schools in South Carolina. The best placed is Spartanburg Community College (Spartanburg, SC), #105 of 415 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 58.5. Florence-Darlington Technical College is the lowest priced at $4,636 a year, in-district, against $8,036 a year, in-district at York Technical College. Automotive programs are taught in Spartanburg, SC, Greenville, SC, Greenwood, SC, West Columbia, SC, Florence, SC and Sumter, SC, and 2 more cities. The largest, in Greenville, SC, awarded 64 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $48,100 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in South Carolina, $2,520 below the national median of $50,620.
South Carolina has one ranked diesel program, Greenville Technical College (Greenville, SC). Its national place is #32 of 76, in the upper half, on 57.9 points. Greenville Technical College publishes $5,495 a year, in-district. The program graduated 21% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 28 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,330 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in South Carolina, $2,440 below the national median of $61,770.
South Carolina has one ranked collision repair program, Greenville Technical College (Greenville, SC). Its national place is #16 of 59, in the upper half, on 62.2 points. Greenville Technical College publishes $5,495 a year, in-district. The program graduated 21% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 28 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $53,290 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in South Carolina, $1,600 below the national median of $54,890.
The one aviation maintenance program ranked in South Carolina is Trident Technical College (Charleston, SC): #123 of 148 nationally, in the bottom quarter, scoring 41.7. Trident Technical College publishes $4,546 a year, in-district. The program graduated 30% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 42 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $75,160 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in South Carolina, $4,710 below the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 13,420 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in South Carolina, a denser market than the national average. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $South Carolina above.
BLS median pay in South Carolina by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$48,100
under $31,200
over $78,030
13,420
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,330
under $41,440
over $76,670
3,360
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$53,290
under $37,540
over $78,110
2,140
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$75,160
under $45,230
over $84,600
1,660
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $53,660 (7,990 jobs), Charleston-North Charleston, SC at $49,120 (2,510 jobs) and Columbia, SC at $48,080 (2,500 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $60,300 (3,350 jobs) and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC at $58,480 (610 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $55,790 (1,850 jobs) and Charleston-North Charleston, SC at $63,080 (660 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC at $78,580 (1,310 jobs) and Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC at $81,450 (510 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in South Carolina has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Questions About Mechanic Schools in South Carolina
What are the best mechanic schools in South Carolina?
For 2027, Greenville Technical College in Greenville, SC has the highest score of the 11 ranked programs in South Carolina, 62.2 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in South Carolina, the leaders by trade are Spartanburg Community College (automotive), Greenville Technical College (diesel), Greenville Technical College (collision repair) and Trident Technical College (aviation maintenance). All nine are public institutions.
Which mechanic schools in South Carolina are accredited?
The 9 ranked mechanic schools in South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in South Carolina earn a median of $48,100, $2,520 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,330, $2,440 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 South Carolina cost?
Among the mechanic schools in South Carolina with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,546 a year, in-district at Trident Technical College (Charleston, SC) to $8,036 a year, in-district at York Technical College (Rock Hill, SC). The median across the state is about $5,210 a year.
Sources for South Carolina 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.
