41 schools · Illinois
Auto and diesel mechanic schools in Illinois
41 schools in Illinois offer auto and diesel mechanic programs (37 of them public), with 40 certificate and 36 associate programs between them. Graduates of the typical certificate program here earned $46,664 a year after finishing, compared with $42,072 nationally.
All auto and diesel mechanic programs in Illinois
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 53 | $79,057 | $46,619 | $5,500 | $4,590 |
| Illinois Central CollegeEast Peoria, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 51 | $58,950 | $79,029 | n/a | $4,800 |
| Parkland CollegeChampaign, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 52 | $52,255 | $70,208 | $7,000 | $4,464 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-ChicagoChicago, IL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 82 | $50,420 | $71,513 | $30,365 | $16,657 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Illinois IncLisle, IL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 524 | $46,664 | $58,515 | $13,756 | $44,200 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park, IL | For-profit trade school | Associate degree | 83 | $40,542 | $52,745 | $19,868 | $34,195 |
| Lincoln College of Technology-Melrose ParkMelrose Park, IL | For-profit trade school | Certificate | 106 | $40,232 | $50,285 | $12,414 | $34,195 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | $39,683 | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 144 | $37,226 | $49,584 | $5,500 | $3,828 |
| Rock Valley CollegeRockford, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 54 | n/a | $83,428 | n/a | $4,324 |
| Rock Valley CollegeRockford, IL | Community college | Certificate | 149 | n/a | $75,578 | $11,916 | $4,324 |
| Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar Grove, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 22 | n/a | $70,429 | n/a | $3,576 |
| Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 21 | n/a | $69,595 | n/a | $4,530 |
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 14 | n/a | $67,540 | n/a | $4,800 |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 147 | n/a | $58,490 | n/a | $3,324 |
| Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 19 | n/a | $49,566 | n/a | $4,536 |
| Rend Lake CollegeIna, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 47 | n/a | $42,923 | n/a | $4,500 |
| Black Hawk CollegeMoline, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 21 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,220 |
| Black Hawk CollegeMoline, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,220 |
| Carl Sandburg CollegeGalesburg, IL | Community college | Certificate | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,500 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 46 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 39 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey CollegeChicago, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,710 |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL | Community college | Certificate | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| College of DuPageGlen Ellyn, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 370 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,901 |
| College of Lake CountyGrayslake, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,901 |
| Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| Danville Area Community CollegeDanville, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,680 |
| Elgin Community CollegeElgin, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,324 |
| Heartland Community CollegeNormal, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 29 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,610 |
| Heartland Community CollegeNormal, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,610 |
| Highland Community CollegeFreeport, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,176 |
| Highland Community CollegeFreeport, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,176 |
| Illinois Eastern Community CollegesOlney, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,260 |
| Illinois Eastern Community CollegesOlney, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,260 |
| Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesby, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 56 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,380 |
| Illinois Valley Community CollegeOglesby, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,380 |
| John A Logan CollegeCarterville, IL | Community college | Certificate | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,630 |
| John A Logan CollegeCarterville, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,630 |
| John Wood Community CollegeQuincy, IL | Community college | Certificate | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,700 |
| Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 171 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,530 |
| Kankakee Community CollegeKankakee, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,220 |
| Kankakee Community CollegeKankakee, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,220 |
| Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,980 |
| Kaskaskia CollegeCentralia, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,980 |
| Kishwaukee CollegeMalta, IL | Community college | Certificate | 37 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Lake Land CollegeMattoon, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 126 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,620 |
| Lake Land CollegeMattoon, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,620 |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL | Private college | Certificate | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $40,700 |
| Lewis UniversityRomeoville, IL | Private college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $40,700 |
| Lewis and Clark Community CollegeGodfrey, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,536 |
| Lincoln Land Community CollegeSpringfield, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,828 |
| McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,162 |
| McHenry County CollegeCrystal Lake, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,162 |
| Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 106 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,942 |
| Moraine Valley Community CollegePalos Hills, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,942 |
| Morton CollegeCicero, IL | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,662 |
| Morton CollegeCicero, IL | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,662 |
| Oakton CollegeDes Plaines, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 170 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,985 |
| Oakton CollegeDes Plaines, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,985 |
| Parkland CollegeChampaign, IL | Community college | Certificate | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,464 |
| Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,176 |
| Prairie State CollegeChicago Heights, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,176 |
| Rend Lake CollegeIna, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,500 |
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 61 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,770 |
| Richland Community CollegeDecatur, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,770 |
| Shawnee Community CollegeUllin, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Shawnee Community CollegeUllin, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,800 |
| Southeastern Illinois CollegeHarrisburg, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,560 |
| Southeastern Illinois CollegeHarrisburg, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,560 |
| Southwestern Illinois CollegeBelleville, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 38 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $4,590 |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove, IL | Public community or technical college | Certificate | 86 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,340 |
| Triton CollegeRiver Grove, IL | Public community or technical college | Associate degree | 16 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $5,340 |
| Waubonsee Community CollegeSugar Grove, IL | Community college | Certificate | 175 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $3,576 |
Cities with the most programs: Chicago (4), Belleville (1), East Peoria (1), Champaign (1), Lisle (1), Melrose Park (1), Springfield (1), Rockford (1), Sugar Grove (1), Joliet (1), Malta (1), Elgin (1).
What counts: vehicle maintenance and repair: auto, diesel, collision, small engine and motorcycle.
Frequently asked questions
How many auto and diesel mechanic schools are in Illinois?
41 schools in Illinois awarded auto and diesel mechanic certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 40 certificate and 36 associate programs.
Which auto and diesel mechanic program in Illinois has the highest earnings?
Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, where certificate graduates earned a median of $79,057 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest auto and diesel mechanic school in Illinois?
By yearly tuition and fees, Elgin Community College in Elgin charges $3,324 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
How much do auto and diesel mechanic graduates make in Illinois?
The typical certificate program in Illinois reported median earnings of $46,664 one year after graduation and $50,285 four years after, for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
More in Illinois: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Carpentry · Construction trades · Heavy equipment mechanic · Truck driving (CDL) · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy · Paralegal
Auto and diesel mechanic schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.