Local Automotive Training Comparisons

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Dallas Ranked For 2026

Compare 5 automotive school options within 50 miles of Dallas. Compare credentials, costs, and program details alongside each institution’s location.

Texas geographic illustration for the best auto mechanic schools in Dallas guide
Texas · Geographic Illustration
Schools Compared
5
Within 50 Miles
Annual Tuition From
$3,537
Institution-Wide · 2024–25
Texas Median Pay
$48,310
Automotive Mechanics · May 2025
Texas Employment
69,750
Occupation-Wide · BLS OEWS

This search is easier when you decide between a fast certificate and a broader degree first. If you are comparing the best auto mechanic schools in Dallas, this search covers 5 nearby school options. The May 2025 BLS OEWS median wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics was $48,310 statewide in Texas.

Dallas has 3 public campuses and 2 private campuses in this comparison. Dallas puts a close public college beside private associate degree options and public campuses farther north and west. Dallas College gives you the shortest straight-line distance at 2.5 miles, and Dallas College reports the most awards, with 768. The available routes include certificate and associate degree options.

Distances are straight-line estimates from a representative point in Dallas 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 Texas, not this city.

Compare The Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Dallas

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
Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort WorthIrving, TX630
Lincoln College of Technology-Grand PrairieGrand Prairie, TX122
Dallas CollegeDallas, TX$4,662768
Tarrant County College DistrictFort Worth, TX$3,53775
Collin County Community College DistrictMcKinney, TX$3,750122

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

Irving, TX · 17.4 Miles From Dallas

Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth

96.7Score

Associate DegreePrivate for-profit

Irving EV Labs And Tool Access

Dallas/Fort Worth offers documented battery-electric lab hours, access to training equipment, and multiple fall start dates for students planning when and where to begin automotive study.

The Dallas/Fort Worth automotive campus in Irving combines engine and vehicle service study with a dedicated battery-electric course. Its catalog assigns 39 lab hours to that EV course. Students have access to most training tools, and the campus posts multiple automotive entry dates during the year.

Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth is 17.4 straight-line miles from Dallas and offers associate degree options across 630 awards. The 75% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Automotive Awards
630
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
75%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
AOS With 664 Lab Hours

Graduates earn the Associate of Occupational Studies in about 51 weeks. The automotive plan applicable to Dallas lists 723 classroom hours and 664 laboratory hours, totaling 1,387.

Battery-Electric Course

AT13-206 Battery Electric Vehicle Technology requires 74.5 hours: 35.5 in lecture and 39 in the lab. It is part of the core automotive plan.

Training Equipment Access

The Irving campus supplies access to most tools and equipment needed during training. Its equipment policy notes that some programs require students to purchase a digital multimeter.

Published Fall Entry Dates

As of September 8, 2026, Dallas/Fort Worth lists Automotive Technology starts on October 5 and November 16, 2026.

Work Before Graduation

The campus describes relationships with local employers that offer early employment to selected students, providing a chance to gain workplace experience while completing school.

02

Grand Prairie, TX · 18.0 Miles From Dallas

Lincoln College of Technology-Grand Prairie

88.8Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePrivate for-profit

Multiple Daily Schedules

Grand Prairie suits students seeking a diploma with day, afternoon, or evening attendance options who can complete practical instruction on campus.

Lincoln Tech's Grand Prairie automotive diploma combines 1,320 instructional hours with day, afternoon, or evening scheduling. The program includes campus shop work, some online coursework, and a service shop management course.

Automotive Awards
122
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
73%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Diploma Length

The Automotive Service Technology diploma lists 55 semester credits, 1,320 instructional hours, and approximately 57 weeks to complete.

Class Delivery

Day, afternoon, and evening programs are available. Hands-on instruction takes place on campus, with some courses delivered online.

Workshop Instruction

Workshop Practices and General Maintenance includes 60 lecture hours and 60 lab or shop hours, with practice using precision measurement tools.

Shop Management

The Service Shop Management course covers repair orders, customer relations, personnel management, business records, insurance, and employment preparation.

Residency Restriction

The Grand Prairie campus currently does not accept applicants or enrollees who reside in Oklahoma.

03

Dallas, TX · 2.5 Miles From Dallas

Dallas College

66.1Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Field Experience in the Degree

Students seeking repair coursework plus experience outside the classroom can complete co-op or practicum courses in both of the final two terms.

Dallas College's Automotive Career Technician degree combines a five-term course plan with two co-op or practicum choices. The program is offered at Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, and Eastfield, with campus options and start terms varying.

Dallas College is 2.5 straight-line miles from Dallas and offers certificate and associate degree options across 768 awards. Annual institution tuition is $4,662 in state and $6,900 out of state. The 32% graduation rate is schoolwide.

Annual In-State Tuition
$4,662
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
768
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
32%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Degree Plan

The Automotive Career Technician A.A.S. requires at least 60 credits across five listed terms and is offered at Brookhaven, Cedar Valley, and Eastfield.

Two Field Courses

Terms four and five each include a 3-credit cooperative education or practicum choice. The final field course serves as the capstone.

Advanced Course Choice

The last term offers Automatic Transmission and Transaxle II or Automotive Electronic Controls alongside drive-train and transmission courses.

County Tuition Estimate

Dallas estimates $5,940 in tuition for county residents completing the two-year degree. Most required learning materials are included; some program costs can be additional.

Friday and Saturday Classes

The automotive program offers Friday and Saturday classes, with specific course schedules and admission terms varying by campus.

04

Fort Worth, TX · 33.2 Miles From Dallas

Tarrant County College District

62.8Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

South Campus With Capstone Choice

Tarrant gives students a choice of practical experience or advanced diagnostics at the end of a published six-term plan, with a clear local tuition estimate for budgeting.

Tarrant County College’s South Campus automotive AAS follows a six-term, 60-credit plan. Its final capstone can be hybrid and battery-electric diagnostics, an internship, or automotive service. Students supply their own hand tools, and the college publishes a $4,440 in-county tuition-and-fee estimate for 2026–27.

Annual In-State Tuition
$3,537
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
75
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
34%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Six-Term Degree Plan

The Automotive Service Technology AAS totals 60 semester credits, organized into three terms in each of two years at South Campus.

Three Capstone Options

The final term pairs climate-control coursework with one capstone: Hybrid and/or Battery Electric Vehicle Systems Diagnostics, Automotive Internship, or Automotive Service.

2026–27 Local Tuition

TCC lists $4,440 in total tuition and fees for the AAS at in-state, in-county rates. Textbooks and other materials are additional.

Bring Your Hand Tools

Automotive Service Technology students must furnish their own hand tools for laboratory classes.

TSI Requirement

Students entering the AAS or a Level 2 certificate must meet Texas Success Initiative requirements; the catalog directs students to the college’s TSI guidance.

05

McKinney, TX · 26.6 Miles From Dallas

Collin County Community College District

61.7Score

Certificate · Associate DegreePublic

Short Blocks or Dealer Training

The express certificate offers a compact entry route; students seeking a manufacturer focus can compare the separate Honda and Toyota degree tracks.

Collin's 15-credit Express Maintenance Technician certificate uses short course blocks and a choice of capstone. Students can also pursue separate Honda PACT and Toyota T-TEN degrees with dealership training requirements.

Annual In-State Tuition
$3,750
Institution-wide · 2024–25
Automotive Awards
122
Certificates & degrees · 2023–24
Schoolwide Graduation
20%
Institution-wide · 150% time

Program Details

Researched September 8, 2026
Express Certificate

The 15-credit XMT certificate begins with introductory technology, electrical systems, and suspension courses in successive five-week blocks.

Capstone Choice

XMT students choose Automotive Service Consultant or Cooperative Education I. Eligible students may take the co-op in the first semester to finish the certificate in one semester.

Continuing Beyond XMT

Students who choose the service consultant capstone must complete Cooperative Education I if they continue in automotive technology for additional awards.

Toyota Degree Experience

The separate two-year Toyota T-TEN degree includes at least 640 dealership internship hours, at least two ASE certifications, and nine Toyota certifications.

Dealer Track Admission

Honda PACT and Toyota T-TEN require departmental permission. Dealership employment eligibility may involve background checks, drug screening, and a driving-record review.

Best Auto Mechanic Schools In Dallas

Campus distance and credential scope are separate measures. Dallas College sits 2.5 straight-line miles from Dallas. Dallas College reports the most awards, with 768. The schools include certificate and associate degree routes; straight-line distance is a map measure, not a driving estimate.

Dallas College offers certificate and associate degree options 2.5 straight-line miles from Dallas, while Universal Technical Institute-Dallas Fort Worth offers an associate degree route 17.4 miles away. Dallas College’s official program details estimate two years and $5,940 in total in-county tuition for the associate route, excluding prerequisites. Its two-month Basic Automotive Attendant and Electric Vehicle Service workforce options are estimated at $936.

Auto Mechanic Pay In Texas

The May 2025 BLS survey reports a $48,310 median annual wage for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Texas, across 69,750 jobs. The median is the midpoint for the occupation, not an offer to new graduates.

10th Percentile
$29,360
Median
$48,310
90th Percentile
$81,720

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.

Dallas Auto Mechanic School Questions

What Is The May 2025 Wage Reference For Dallas?
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for automotive service technicians and mechanics in Texas is $48,310. The middle figure is a statewide occupation measure, with the 10th percentile at $29,360 and the 90th percentile at $81,720.
Which Campus Is Closest To Dallas?
Dallas College is 2.5 straight-line miles from Dallas and shows 768 awards across certificate and associate degree credentials. Its schoolwide graduation rate is 32%.
Which School Has The Most Listed Awards Near Dallas?
Dallas College lists $4,662 in annual in-state institution tuition and $6,900 out of state. It also shows 768 awards in the Dallas 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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