Local Automotive Training Comparisons

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Minneapolis Ranked For 2026

Compare 6 automotive school options within 50 miles of Minneapolis. Compare credentials, costs, and program details alongside each institution’s location.

Minnesota geographic illustration for the best auto mechanic schools in Minneapolis guide
Minnesota · Geographic Illustration
Schools Compared
6
Within 50 Miles
Annual Tuition From
$5,342
Institution-Wide · 2024–25
Minnesota Median Pay
$58,390
Automotive Mechanics · May 2025
Minnesota Employment
11,980
Occupation-Wide · BLS OEWS

This market includes close and longer-distance options with different tuition categories. If you are comparing the best auto mechanic schools in Minneapolis, this search covers 6 nearby school options. The May 2025 BLS OEWS median wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $58,390 statewide in Minnesota.

Minneapolis has 5 public campuses and 1 private campus in this comparison. Minneapolis has a nearby private college and public technical campuses, with different award lengths. Dunwoody College of Technology is the nearest at 1.3 straight-line miles, while Dakota County Technical College reports the most awards, with 58. The nearby choices include certificate and associate degree routes.

Distances are straight-line estimates from a representative point in Minneapolis to each institution’s federally reported location. They measure geographic proximity, not driving time or the location of every teaching site. Salary figures below describe Minnesota, not this city.

Compare The Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Minneapolis

Ranked schools receive a comparison score from automotive credential awards (50%), annual institution-wide tuition (30%), and schoolwide graduation rate (20%). These measures help compare reported scale, cost, and institutional completion. Read The Full Ranking Method.

SchoolLocationAnnual In-State TuitionAutomotive Awards
Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN$5,75958
Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN$5,34255
Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka, MN$5,69222
Dunwoody College of TechnologyMinneapolis, MN$25,21433
Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN$5,47546
Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN$5,48624

Tuition is the institution’s annual undergraduate figure for 2024–25, excluding fees, tools, housing, and other expenses. Awards are credentials reported in 2023–24, not a count of unique graduates. Blank cells indicate an omitted measure.

01

Rosemount, MN · 18.2 Miles From Minneapolis

Dakota County Technical College

59.4Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Daytime Study With A Required Internship

DCTC requires students to obtain a full-service automotive internship and attend its Tuesday information session as part of the automotive pathway.

Dakota County Technical College’s 77-credit Automotive Service Technology AAS offers daytime, full-time study beginning in fall or spring. Applicants must attend an information session and obtain an internship at a full-service automotive facility, while manufacturer partnerships add brand-specific training.

Dakota County Technical College is 18.2 straight-line miles from Minneapolis and offers certificate and associate degree options across 58 awards. Annual institution tuition is $5,759 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The 58% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition
$5,759
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
58
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
58%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
AAS Schedule

The 77-credit AAS is delivered on campus through daytime, full-time classes, with fall or spring starts.

Information Session

Applicants must RSVP for and attend a Tuesday information session.

Internship Requirement

Students must obtain an internship at a full-service automotive facility.

Manufacturer Training

Enrolled automotive students can access Mercedes-Benz Campus and Mopar CAP Local training, with manufacturer-specific coursework and dealership experience opportunities.

Hybrid And EV Coverage

The curriculum explicitly includes hybrid/electric-drive systems alongside engine, chassis, drivetrain, electrical, fuel-injection, and emissions work.

02

Brooklyn Park, MN · 11.2 Miles From Minneapolis

Hennepin Technical College

54.7Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Two Campuses With An Industry Internship

Hennepin’s AAS includes an industry internship during the recommended second semester, with degree instruction offered at both Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie.

Hennepin Technical College’s 72-credit Automotive Technician AAS includes a five-credit industry internship and is offered at Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie. Automotive students can enter daytime classes in fall or evening classes in spring, while instructors help them plan required tool purchases.

Hennepin Technical College is 11.2 straight-line miles from Minneapolis and offers certificate and associate degree options across 55 awards. Annual institution tuition is $5,342 for both in-state and out-of-state students. The 42% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition
$5,342
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
55
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
42%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
AAS Requirements

The 2026–27 catalog lists 72 credits: 57 in technical studies and 15 in required or elective general education.

Required Internship

Automotive Industry Internship I is a five-credit requirement placed in the recommended second semester.

Campuses And Starts

The AAS is offered at Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie; the automotive program lists fall daytime and spring evening entry.

Tool Purchasing

Instructors issue a tool list on the first day and help students plan purchases; the program lists discounted supplier tools ranging from $500 to $5,000.

Advanced Study

A separate 22-credit Advanced Vehicle Specialist certificate serves employed technicians or automotive AAS and diploma graduates, with courses in hybrid batteries, machines, and controls.

03

Anoka, MN · 18.9 Miles From Minneapolis

Anoka Technical College

46.9Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Lab-Intensive Training Before Advanced Diagnostics

Anoka combines extensive lab time with a separate advanced diagnostic specialist program intended for Automotive Technician graduates.

Anoka Technical College’s Automotive Technician AAS lists 72 credits, with 75% of program time spent in the lab. Students supply professional-quality hand tools, use electronic service-information systems, and can pursue an advanced diagnostic diploma after completing technician training.

Annual In-State Tuition
$5,692
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
22
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
66%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
AAS Credits

Anoka’s 2026–27 program cost information identifies the Automotive Technician AAS as a 72-credit degree.

Lab Share

The college states that students spend 75% of their program time in the automotive lab.

Required Hand Tools

Students provide a professional-quality hand-tool set and must have it available for lab use each day they attend.

Service Information

Students have access to AllData, Mitchell OnDemand 5, and General Motors Electronic Service Information, including repair-estimating software.

Advanced Study

The Advanced Automotive Electronic Diagnostic Specialist program adds diagnostic and repair skills for successful Automotive Technician program graduates.

04

Minneapolis, MN · 1.3 Miles From Minneapolis

Dunwoody College of Technology

46.1Score

Associate DegreePrivate nonprofit

Included Lab Tools And Manufacturer Modules

Dunwoody provides lab tools and materials and offers optional manufacturer-specific training modules at no additional charge.

Dunwoody College’s two-year Automotive Service Technology AAS runs during the day on campus. Students use college lab tools and materials at no extra cost, can add manufacturer-specific online training, and have a direct transfer route into Dunwoody’s business-management bachelor’s degree.

Annual In-State Tuition
$25,214
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
33
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
66%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
AAS Schedule

The Automotive Service Technology AAS is a two-year program with daytime, on-campus classes only.

Lab Tools Included

Students can use Dunwoody’s automotive lab tools and materials at no extra cost.

Manufacturer Add-Ons

Optional online training includes Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Mopar CAP Local, and Subaru; students access modules at any time and complete them outside regular coursework.

Automotive Facility

The full-service lab includes a service desk, more than 30 service bays, AllData and Identifix resources, scan tools, and an alignment system.

Bachelor’s Progression

The degree transfers directly into Dunwoody’s BS in Business Management and Leadership.

05

White Bear Lake, MN · 15.0 Miles From Minneapolis

Century College

45.9Score

CertificatePublic

Daytime Study With A Required Orientation

Century combines daytime shop and classroom work with a required automotive orientation covering program policies, tools, textbooks, and online learning.

Century College schedules its Automotive Service Technology diploma and Basic Automotive Service Certificate for daytime, full-time study starting in fall. Students work in a full-service automotive center with ASE Master Technicians and must complete a separate program orientation.

Annual In-State Tuition
$5,475
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
46
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
31%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Schedule Requirements

Automotive classes run during the day, begin in fall only, and require full-time study.

Two Award Scopes

The diploma covers areas such as engine diagnosis, computer systems, fuel injection, HVAC, and automatic transmissions; the basic certificate includes starting/charging, brakes, steering, suspension, and manual drivetrains.

Live Shop

Instruction combines lectures, labs, and live shop work alongside ASE Master Technicians in a full-service automotive center.

Required Orientation

New students must attend automotive program orientation after completing college orientation and registering for the program.

Master Accreditation

Century identifies the Automotive Service Technology program as Master Auto Service Technology accredited.

06

Saint Paul, MN · 7.8 Miles From Minneapolis

Saint Paul College

41.4Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Diploma And AAS With Transfer Agreements

Saint Paul lists an Operations Management transfer agreement for both automotive awards and an Individualized Studies option for AAS graduates.

Saint Paul College’s Automotive Service Technician pathway offers a 56-credit diploma and 72-credit AAS. Students supply tools and a toolbox, and both awards have transfer agreements. The college reports fall 2026 automotive classes are full, with a waitlist available.

Annual In-State Tuition
$5,486
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
24
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
40%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Award Credits

The program cost table lists a 56-credit diploma and 72-credit Automotive Service Technician AAS.

Tools And Toolbox

Students supply basic tools and a toolbox; the program-details page estimates $2,000–$3,000 for professional-quality equipment.

Bachelor’s Transfer Agreements

Both automotive awards have an agreement with Minnesota State University Moorhead’s BS in Operations Management; the AAS also has Metropolitan State University’s BA in Individualized Studies option.

Fall 2026 Waitlist

The college says fall 2026 Automotive Service Technician classes are full; enrolled applicants can join the eServices waitlist for any seats that open.

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Minneapolis

The route matters because a certificate and an associate degree make different time commitments. Dunwoody College of Technology sits 1.3 straight-line miles from Minneapolis. Dakota County Technical College reports the most awards, with 58. The schools include certificate and associate degree routes; straight-line distance is a map measure, not a driving estimate.

A schoolwide graduation percentage gives institution context, while the automotive award has its own details. Dakota County Technical College lists $5,759 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. Hennepin Technical College lists $5,342 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. Century College lists $5,475 for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. In-state and out-of-state figures are separate tuition categories. Institution tuition is one cost line; tools, fees, and travel add separate costs.

Dakota County Technical College offers certificate and associate degree options at 18.2 straight-line miles; Hennepin Technical College offers certificate and associate degree options at 11.2 straight-line miles; Century College offers certificate options at 15 straight-line miles. 5 nearby schools offer an associate degree. Those details help you compare institutions, but they do not describe an individual student's result.

Auto Mechanic Pay In Minnesota

The May 2025 BLS survey reports a $58,390 median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Minnesota, across 11,980 jobs. The median is the midpoint for the occupation, not an offer to new graduates.

10th Percentile
$38,310
Median
$58,390
90th Percentile
$83,180

Experience, employer, and the work you do affect where you fall in that spread. Explore Auto Mechanic Salaries.

School Credentials And ASE Certification

A college certificate is an academic credential; professional ASE certification requires passing the relevant ASE test and satisfying its work experience rule. For the A1–A9 automobile tests, that rule is two years of qualifying repair experience. You can take most tests before completing the experience requirement, but passing alone does not make you certified.

Completing an ASE-accredited automotive program can count for one year of that experience. An eligible ASE-accredited manufacturer co-op program can count for the full two years when it includes the required hands-on work. These substitutions cannot be combined. Source: ASE Work Experience Rules.

Our certificate and associate degree comparison explains the academic routes, while the ASE certification guide covers professional credentials. The school cost guide separates tuition, fees, and tools.

Minneapolis Auto Mechanic School Questions

What Is The May 2025 Wage Reference For Minneapolis?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Minnesota is $58,390. The middle figure is a statewide occupation measure, with the 10th percentile at $38,310 and the 90th percentile at $83,180.
Which Campus Is Closest To Minneapolis?
Dunwoody College of Technology is 1.3 straight-line miles from Minneapolis and shows 33 awards across associate degree credentials. Its schoolwide graduation rate is 66%.
Which School Has The Most Listed Awards Near Minneapolis?
Dakota County Technical College lists $5,759 in annual in-state institution tuition. It also shows 58 awards in the Minneapolis comparison.

Sources For These School Comparisons

School records and program sources checked September 8, 2026. Federal figures retain their original reporting years; program details cite the school’s published requirements and costs. Send A Correction.

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