State School Rankings

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In North Dakota Ranked For 2026

Explore 4 automotive schools in North Dakota, with certificate and degree options, tuition, and facts about automotive training.

North Dakota geographic illustration for the best auto mechanic schools in North Dakota guide
North Dakota · Geographic Illustration
Schools Compared
4
Across The State
Annual Tuition From
$4,167
Institution-Wide · 2024–25
North Dakota Median Pay
$57,360
Automotive Mechanics · May 2025
North Dakota Employment
2,140
Occupation-Wide · BLS OEWS

The best auto mechanic schools in North Dakota include four schools and seven automotive programs. The state figures report 46 awards in 2023-24. North Dakota's May 2025 BLS OEWS median wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $57,360.

North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton reports a 55% schoolwide graduation rate, $4,996 annual in-state tuition, and 10 awards in an associate's program. Lake Region State College in Devils Lake reports a 52% rate, $4,250 tuition, and seven awards across associate's and certificates. Bismarck State College reports 14 awards and $4,167 tuition.

Compare The Best Auto Mechanic Schools In North Dakota

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
Bismarck State CollegeBismarck, ND$4,16714
North Dakota State College of ScienceWahpeton, ND$4,99610
Lake Region State CollegeDevils Lake, ND$4,2507
United Tribes Technical CollegeBismarck, ND$4,20015

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

Bismarck, ND

Bismarck State College

42.6Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

75-Credit Systems AAS

This degree fits a student who wants a defined two-year sequence with dedicated coursework in electrical systems, chassis work, transmissions, engines, and climate-control diagnosis.

Bismarck State College’s Automotive Technology AAS requires 75 total credits, including 60 prescribed automotive credits and 15 general education credits. The sequence moves from shop orientation, electronics, starting and charging systems, brakes, steering, and transmissions to engine repair, climate-control diagnosis, and ignition, fuel-delivery, and emission-control systems.

Annual In-State Tuition
$4,167
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
14
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
47%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Degree Structure

Bismarck State lists 60 prescribed program credits, 15 general education credits, and 75 total credits for the Automotive Technology Associate in Applied Science.

Electrical Sequence

The suggested first fall term pairs Mechanical and Shop Orientation with Electronics, Starting and Charging Systems, and Instruments and Accessory Systems.

Chassis And Drivetrain

The second term covers Clutches, Drive Trains and Axles, Manual Transmissions and Transaxles, Suspension and Steering, Brake Fundamentals, and Brake Repair.

Engine And Climate Work

Later coursework includes Engine Fundamentals, Engine Repair, A/C Heating Theory and Operation, and A/C and Heating Diagnosis.

General Education

The degree plan includes communications, business, math, science and technology, and arts and humanities or social and behavioral sciences selections alongside the prescribed automotive courses.

02

Wahpeton, ND

North Dakota State College of Science

35.9Score

Associate DegreePublic

Shop-Based Diploma Or AAS

NDSCS suits students who want direct vehicle work with small classes and diagnostic instruction, with general automotive and focused systems credentials listed by the college.

North Dakota State College of Science’s Automotive Technology program combines classroom instruction with extensive shop experience on engines, brakes, suspension, steering, electrical systems, and computerized vehicle systems. Students can choose diploma or associate degree options, use diagnostic tools in small classes, and progress toward entry-level technician work in as little as two years.

Annual In-State Tuition
$4,996
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
10
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
55%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Credential Options

NDSCS describes both diploma and associate degree options in Automotive Technology. Its program list also names certificates in electrical and drivability work, engines, powertrains, and steering, suspension, and alignment.

Shop Experience

The program blends classroom instruction with extensive shop experience. Students work directly on vehicles to practice diagnosis, repair, and preventive maintenance.

Systems Coverage

The curriculum addresses engines, brakes, suspension, steering, electrical systems, computerized vehicle systems, and emerging automotive technologies.

Diagnostic Tools

NDSCS says students use industry-standard and state-of-the-art diagnostic tools while learning the service procedures used on complex vehicles.

Class Size And Faculty

The college describes small class sizes and individualized attention, with instructors who bring professional automotive industry experience to the shop.

03

Devils Lake, ND

Lake Region State College

34.9Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

38-Credit Repair Certificate

This certificate suits a student seeking a focused program that covers mechanical repair and the electronic and computer-controlled systems found in current vehicles.

Lake Region State College’s Automotive Technology Certificate is a 38-credit practical route built around engine work, chassis systems, electrical systems, fuel systems, and computer controls. The plan includes Engine Fundamentals, Engine Overhaul, Suspension and Steering, Brakes, Electronics, Electrical Systems, Fuel Systems, and Computer Controls before a math requirement.

Annual In-State Tuition
$4,250
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
7
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
52%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Certificate Credits

Lake Region State College lists 38 total credits for the Automotive Technology Certificate, including a math course at Math 100 or higher.

Engine Training

The certificate includes six-credit Engine Fundamentals and six-credit Engine Overhaul courses, giving the program a substantial engine-focused sequence.

Chassis Service

Suspension and Steering and Brakes are separate four-credit courses in the plan, covering two core vehicle repair areas.

Electrical Systems

Students take Electronics for three credits and Electrical Systems for six credits, pairing component knowledge with broader vehicle electrical service.

Computer Controls

Fuel Systems and Computer Controls appear as separate three-credit courses, giving the certificate dedicated coverage of fuel delivery and computerized vehicle operation.

04

Bismarck, ND

United Tribes Technical College

32.7Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePrivate nonprofit

52-To-61-Credit Pathway

This program fits a student who wants a clearly sequenced diploma or AAS with named automotive courses and a defined progression from core repair systems to advanced service work.

United Tribes Technical College’s Automotive Technology pathway pairs a 52-credit diploma with a 61-credit AAS. The published sequence moves from engine repair and brakes into electrical, heating and air conditioning, engine performance, manual and automatic transmissions, steering, and suspension.

Annual In-State Tuition
$4,200
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
15
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
21%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Credential Options

UTTC publishes a 52-credit Automotive Technology diploma and a 61-credit Associate of Applied Science degree pathway.

Diploma Sequence

The diploma sequence names engine repair, brakes, automotive electrical, heating and air conditioning, automatic and manual transmissions, and engine performance across three terms.

AAS Sequence

The AAS sequence adds general education while retaining automotive electrical, heating and air conditioning, engine performance, steering and suspension, and transmission courses.

Technical Credit

Published automotive courses carry substantial technical credit loads, including eight credits for Automotive Electrical and eight for Engine Performance in the listed pathways.

ASE Accreditation

UTTC says its Automotive Technology program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation and qualifies students to take nationally approved ASE certification exams.

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In North Dakota

North Dakota's 46 awards cover seven programs, and all four schools give you a close comparison. North Dakota State College of Science reports 10 awards, Lake Region seven, Bismarck 14, and United Tribes 15. The annual tuition figures range from $4,167 to $4,996 among the named examples, so credential and campus fit distinguish the routes.

North Dakota's four-school set is a straightforward associate's-degree comparison with different certificate mixes. North Dakota State College of Science reports the 55% schoolwide rate and 10 awards. Lake Region State College offers associate's and longer certificates at the lower $4,250 annual tuition figure. Bismarck State College reports 14 awards, a 47% schoolwide rate, and both certificates and associate degrees. United Tribes Technical College reports 15 awards and a 21% rate.

The small catalog makes the credential distinction central. The ASE guide explains how to separate school completion from the later test and hands-on experience requirements.

Auto Mechanic Pay In North Dakota

The May 2025 BLS survey reports a $57,360 median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics in North Dakota, across 2,140 jobs. The median is the midpoint for the occupation, not an offer to new graduates.

10th Percentile
$37,610
Median
$57,360
90th Percentile
$83,860

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.

North Dakota Auto Mechanic School Questions

What Is The May 2025 North Dakota Wage Median?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for automotive service technicians and mechanics in North Dakota is $57,360. The middle figure is a statewide occupation measure, with the 10th percentile at $37,610 and the 90th percentile at $83,860.
Where Does North Dakota Report Associate Degree Awards?
United Tribes Technical College (certificate and associate degree, 15 awards), Bismarck State College (certificate and associate degree, 14 awards), North Dakota State College of Science (associate degree, 10 awards), Lake Region State College (certificate and associate degree, 7 awards) show associate degree credentials among the published school figures.
How Many Automotive Awards Are Reported In North Dakota?
The North Dakota schools span certificate and associate degree credentials across 7 automotive options and 46 awards in 2023-24. United Tribes Technical College has the largest listed award count at 15. Bismarck State College lists $4,167 in annual in-state institution tuition.

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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