27 accredited programs at 20 schools in Tennessee, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN has the highest score, and automotive body and related repairers here earn a median $47,460.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
27 ranked programs at 20 schools in Tennessee: 17 automotive, 3 diesel, 2 collision repair and 5 aviation maintenance.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN scores highest, 72.8 out of 100 (collision repair).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,290 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Tennessee.
Published prices run from $5,154 for the 16-month program (Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton) to $37,021 for the 14-month program (Nashville Auto-Diesel College).
18 of 20 ranked mechanic schools in Tennessee are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Tennessee
These mechanic schools in Tennessee run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Collision Repair Technology
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Score72.8
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Collision Repair and Refinishing Technician
Cost
$4,623for the 12-month program (scored as $4,623 a year)
Graduation rate
71%within 150% of normal time
Auto body technician pay in Tennessee
$47,460median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$56,468median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Why it ranks here
Ranked #3 of 59 collision repair programs nationally. Earns its place with a price toward the low end of ranked collision repair programs ($4,623 for the 12-month program), graduates earning a median $56,468 and a 71% graduation rate.
Source: school’s published price (2026-27, read November 3, 2026), IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the ASE accreditation list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Diesel Powered Equipment Technology
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Score68.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Diesel Technician
Cost
$8,179for the 20-month program (scored as $4,907 a year)
Graduation rate
71%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$56,468median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
30in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #7 of 76 diesel programs nationally. Scores well on a price toward the low end of ranked diesel programs ($8,179 for the 20-month program), graduates earning a median $56,468 and a 71% graduation rate. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Clinton, TN; Knoxville, TN.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Score64.2
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Automotive & Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Tech
Mopar CAP
Cost
$6,355for the 16-month program (scored as $4,766 a year)
Graduation rate
71%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$56,468median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
47in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #41 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for graduates earning a median $56,468 and a 71% graduation rate. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Clinton, TN; Knoxville, TN.
17 ranked automotive programs at 17 schools in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (Knoxville, TN) leads and stands #41 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 64.2. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton is the lowest priced at $5,154 for the 16-month program, against $37,021 for the 14-month program at Nashville Auto-Diesel College. Automotive programs are taught in Knoxville, TN, Athens, TN, Hartsville, TN, Memphis, TN, Murfreesboro, TN and Elizabethton, TN, and 11 more cities. The largest, in Nashville, TN, awarded 151 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $50,290 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Tennessee, $330 below the national median of $50,620.
3 ranked diesel programs at 3 schools in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (Knoxville, TN) leads and stands #7 of 76 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 68.2. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Dickson is the lowest priced at $7,955 for the 20-month program, against $37,021 for the 14-month program at Nashville Auto-Diesel College. Diesel programs are taught in Knoxville, TN, Dickson, TN and Nashville, TN. The largest, in Nashville, TN, awarded 123 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,190 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Tennessee, $2,580 below the national median of $61,770.
2 ranked collision repair programs at 2 schools in Tennessee. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (Knoxville, TN) leads and stands #3 of 59 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 72.8. Published prices barely differ: $4,623 for the 12-month program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville and $4,623 for the 12-month program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Morristown. Collision repair programs are taught in Knoxville, TN and Morristown, TN. The best completion rate, 80% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Morristown, TN. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $47,460 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Tennessee, $7,430 below the national median of $54,890.
5 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 5 schools in Tennessee. The best placed is Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis (Memphis, TN), #56 of 148 nationally and in the upper half, scoring 56.1. Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis is the lowest priced at $6,537 for the 18-month program, against $18,556 for the 17-month program at North Central Institute. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN, Clarksville, TN, Blountville, TN and Morristown, TN. The best completion rate, 100% within 150% of normal time, belongs to the program in Clarksville, TN. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $81,040 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Tennessee, $1,170 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 16,210 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Tennessee, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Tennessee above.
BLS median pay in Tennessee by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$50,290
under $34,820
over $79,930
16,210
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$59,190
under $40,450
over $80,580
5,720
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$47,460
under $34,950
over $70,310
3,970
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$81,040
under $52,900
over $167,410
4,670
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $58,700 (5,150 jobs), Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $50,490 (2,980 jobs) and Knoxville, TN at $48,540 (2,280 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $60,760 (1,780 jobs) and Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $61,360 (1,240 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $49,880 (1,480 jobs) and Chattanooga, TN-GA at $49,560 (640 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Memphis, TN-MS-AR at $92,180 (2,140 jobs) and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $68,080 (1,640 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Tennessee has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
For 2027, Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville in Knoxville, TN has the highest score of the 27 ranked programs in Tennessee, 72.8 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Tennessee, the leaders by trade are Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (automotive), Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (diesel), Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Knoxville (collision repair) and Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Memphis (aviation maintenance). 18 of the 20 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Tennessee are accredited?
The 20 ranked mechanic schools in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Tennessee earn a median of $50,290, $330 below the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $59,190, $2,580 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 Tennessee cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Tennessee with a published price, tuition and fees run from $5,154 for the 16-month program at Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton (Elizabethton, TN) to $37,021 for the 14-month program at Nashville Auto-Diesel College (Nashville, TN). The median across the state is about $4,695 a year.
Sources for Tennessee 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.
