13 accredited programs at 10 schools in Virginia, ranked for 2027: automotive, diesel, collision repair and aviation maintenance. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas in Manassas, VA has the highest score, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians here earn a median $82,200.
By Trevor Rupe, Contributor at Savo Media Group Updated
At a Glance
13 ranked programs at 10 schools in Virginia: 8 automotive, 1 diesel, 1 collision repair and 3 aviation maintenance.
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas in Manassas, VA scores highest, 63.1 out of 100 (aviation maintenance).
BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,330 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Virginia.
Published prices run from $4,979 a year, in-state (New River Community College) to $22,465 a year (Liberty University).
7 of 10 ranked mechanic schools in Virginia are public institutions.
Top Mechanic Schools in Virginia
These mechanic schools in Virginia run in score order. Ranks are this state’s; each card also gives the national rank in its trade.
Rank 1
Aviation Maintenance Technician
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas
Manassas, VA
Score63.1
FAA Part 147
Private For-Profit
Certificate, 21 months
Cost
$16,757a year
Graduation rate
82%within 150% of normal time
Aircraft mechanic pay in Virginia
$82,200median, BLS May 2025
Graduate earnings
$64,453median four years after completing, certificate level
Why it ranks here
Ranked #27 of 148 aviation maintenance programs nationally. Earns its place with graduates earning a median $64,453 and an 82% graduation rate.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard, the FAA school list and BLS OEWS May 2025.
Rank 2
Automotive Analysis & Repair
Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, VA
Score60.6
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science, 2 years
Cost
$5,646a year, in-state
Graduation rate
40%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$66,335median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
21in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #83 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Ranked on a price of $5,646 a year, in-state, graduates earning a median $66,335 and a 40% graduation rate.
Source: IPEDS 2024-25 (provisional), College Scorecard and the ASE accreditation list.
Rank 3
Automotive Technology
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
Score59.5
ASE Accredited Program
Public
Associate of Applied Science, 2 years
GM ASEP
Mopar CAP
Cost
$5,891a year, in-state
Graduation rate
33%within 150% of normal time
Graduate earnings
$58,142median four years after completing, certificate level; school-wide across its mechanic programs
Awards
87in 2024-25
Why it ranks here
Ranked #89 of 415 automotive programs nationally. Stands out for graduates earning a median $58,142 and 87 awards in 2024-25. Its figures cover its accredited sites in Alexandria, VA; Manassas, VA.
8 ranked automotive programs at 8 schools in Virginia. Blue Ridge Community College (Weyers Cave, VA) leads and stands #83 of 415 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 60.6. New River Community College is the lowest priced at $4,979 a year, in-state, against $14,568 a year at Advanced Technology Institute. Automotive programs are taught in Weyers Cave, VA, Annandale, VA, Norfolk, VA, Locust Grove, VA, Dublin, VA and Danville, VA, and 2 more cities. The largest, in Norfolk, VA, awarded 264 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $59,330 for automotive service technicians and mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in Virginia, $8,710 above the national median of $50,620.
Only Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, VA) makes the diesel list for Virginia; it ranks #50 of 76 nationally, 50.8 points, in the lower half. Tidewater Community College publishes $5,588 a year, in-state. The program graduated 32% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 5 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $61,090 for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (SOC 49-3031) in Virginia, $680 below the national median of $61,770.
Only Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, VA) makes the collision repair list for Virginia; it ranks #40 of 59 nationally, 48.6 points, in the lower half. Tidewater Community College publishes $5,588 a year, in-state. The program graduated 32% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 19 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $57,760 for automotive body and related repairers (SOC 49-3021) in Virginia, $2,870 above the national median of $54,890.
3 ranked aviation maintenance programs at 3 schools in Virginia. Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas (Manassas, VA) leads and stands #27 of 148 nationally, in the top quarter, on a score of 63.1. Blue Ridge Community College is the lowest priced at $5,646 a year, in-state, against $22,465 a year at Liberty University. Aviation maintenance programs are taught in Manassas, VA, Weyers Cave, VA and Lynchburg, VA. The program graduated 82% of its students within 150% of normal time and awarded 82 credentials in 2024-25. BLS reports a May 2025 median of $82,200 for aircraft mechanics and service technicians (SOC 49-3011) in Virginia, $2,330 above the national median of $79,870.
BLS counts 17,880 wage and salary jobs for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Virginia, close to the national concentration. The medians below describe each occupation in the state, not the graduates of the mechanic schools in $Virginia above.
BLS median pay in Virginia by occupation, May 2025
Occupation
Median
Lowest 10%
Highest 10%
Jobs
U.S. median
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics SOC 49-3023
$59,330
under $36,540
over $92,570
17,880
$50,620
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists SOC 49-3031
$61,090
under $45,250
over $79,150
8,070
$61,770
Automotive Body and Related Repairers SOC 49-3021
$57,760
under $36,950
over $124,120
3,720
$54,890
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians SOC 49-3011
$82,200
under $58,150
over $125,170
2,260
$79,870
Largest metropolitan areas for automotive service technicians and mechanics: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $61,860 (12,030 jobs), Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $58,290 (3,560 jobs) and Richmond, VA at $61,510 (2,930 jobs).
For bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $72,580 (2,910 jobs) and Richmond, VA at $61,390 (1,400 jobs).
For automotive body and related repairers: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $59,770 (2,150 jobs) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $60,100 (820 jobs).
For aircraft mechanics and service technicians: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $93,910 (1,440 jobs) and Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC at $80,450 (650 jobs).
Mechanic Salary in Virginia has the full percentiles, every metropolitan area BLS publishes and the five mechanic trades side by side.
Mechanic Licensing in Virginia
Safety inspector license (Class A, B, C) comes from the Virginia Department of State Police and covers state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
For 2027, Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas in Manassas, VA has the highest score of the 13 ranked programs in Virginia, 63.1 out of 100. Among the mechanic schools in Virginia, the leaders by trade are Blue Ridge Community College (automotive), Tidewater Community College (diesel), Tidewater Community College (collision repair) and Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas (aviation maintenance). 7 of the 10 ranked schools with a recorded control are public.
Which mechanic schools in Virginia are accredited?
The 10 ranked mechanic schools in Virginia 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 Virginia?
In the Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 estimates, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in Virginia earn a median of $59,330, $8,710 above the national median of $50,620; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earn a median of $61,090, $680 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 Virginia cost?
Among the mechanic schools in Virginia with a published price, tuition and fees run from $4,979 a year, in-state at New River Community College (Dublin, VA) to $22,465 a year at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA). The median across the state is about $5,588 a year.
Do you need a license to work as a mechanic in Virginia?
Safety inspector license (Class A, B, C) comes from the Virginia Department of State Police and covers state inspection or emissions work, which is separate from general repair.
Sources for Virginia 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.
