The Best Automotive Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools
Last Updated August 8, 2023 | Andrew BoyleAt CJ Pony Parts, we believe that young people with a passion for mechanics hold the keys to the future of the automotive industry. If you are excited about a future in the automotive industry, the best thing you can do to realize that dream is get educated.
To help future technicians succeed, we’ve created a scholarship program for them. We’ve also put together a list of the best automotive colleges and trade schools from around the nation, to give prospective students a head start when it comes time to make a decision about where to apply and what to expect from different institutions.
How did we come up with this list?
We started with a large collection of America’s public and private campuses, and then evaluated them based on closeness with the automotive industry, price and livability using metrics from areavibes.com. You’ll find acceptance rates, average tuition fees and links to each school’s home page, making it easy to learn more about the schools you’re interested in.
Achieving your goal of becoming an automotive engineer or technician begins even before you attend college. Those high-school shop classes are a great foundation for a bright future in the industry. When it comes time to put out applications, you’ll want to look for something all of these schools have in common — a focus on engineering and the opportunity to work hands-on.
The Best Automotive Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools
Large Schools and Universites - Undergrads 10,000+
| School | Location | Undergrads | Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Livability Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Austin | Austin, Texas | 37,083 | $9,798 | 40% | 80 |
| Texas A&M University | College Station, Texas | 36,219 | $8,506 | 69% | 83 |
| Michigan State | East Lansing, Michigan | 34,196 | $12,862 | 69% | 79 |
| University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, Michigan | 27,046 | $13,142 | 37% | 80 |
| Universal Technical Institute | Scottsdale, Arizona | 19,741 | N/A | N/A | 84 |
| Central Michigan University | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | 18,564 | $11,220 | 63% | 73 |
| California Polytechnic State University | San Luis Obispo, California | 17,027 | $8,724 | 37% | 73 |
| University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, Texas | 16,164 | $8,878 | 60% | 79 |
| Purdue School of Engineering and Technology | Indianapolis, Indiana | 16,127 | $8,756 | 75% | 76 |
| Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina | 15,643 | $13,076 | 58% | 83 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, New York | 14,245 | $45,358 | 16% | 75 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, Georgia | 13,272 | $10,650 | 55% | 77 |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham, Washington | 12,860 | $8,863 | 84% | 75 |
| Southern Illinois University | Carbondale, Illinois | 12,387 | $12,093 | 79% | 76 |
| Virginia Tech | Blacksburg, Virginia | 25,384 | $5,732 | 78% | 81 |
| Weber State University | Ogden, Utah | 11,784 | $4,990 | N/A | 75 |
Small Universities and Trade Schools - Undergrads less than 10,000
| School | Location | Undergrads | Tuition | Acceptance Rate | Livability Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferris State University | Big Rapids, Michigan | 9,366 | $10,466 | 76% | 72 |
| Indiana State University | Terre Haute, Indiana | 8,675 | $8,256 | 83% | 73 |
| University of Central Missouri | Warrensburg, Missouri | 8,170 | $7,265 | 81% | 80 |
| Stanford University | Stanford, California | 7,003 | $43,683 | 6% | 82 |
| Farmingdale State College | East Farmingdale, New York | 5,787 | $7,125 | 53% | 79 |
| Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, Kansas | 5,734 | $5,906 | 79% | 76 |
| Michigan Technological University | Houghton, Michigan | 5,196 | $13,728 | 77% | 76 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn, Michigan | 4,869 | $10,614 | 63% | 75 |
| Pennsylvania College of Technology | Williamsport, Pennsylvania | 4,764 | $14,940 | N/A | 75 |
| Colorado State University-Pueblo | Pueblo, Colorado | 3,901 | $7,327 | 94% | 74 |
| University of Northwestern Ohio | Lima, Ohio | 3,645 | $9,565 | N/A | 70 |
| Alfred State College | Alfred, New York | 3,212 | $7,294 | 55% | 72 |
| Morrisville State College | Morrisville, New York | 2,708 | $7,412 | 59% | 76 |
| New England Institute of Technology | Warwick, Rhode Island | 2,320 | $21,285 | N/A | 77 |
| WyoTech | Blairsville, Pennsylvania | 1,784 | N/A | 100% | 80 |
| Baker College of Port Huron | Port Huron, Michigan | 1,776 | $8,100 | N/A | 73 |
| Kettering University | Flint, Michigan | 1,628 | $35,600 | 62% | 68 |
| Siena Heights University | Adrian, Michigan | 1,173 | $21,890 | 68% | 71 |
| Automotive Training Center | Warminster, PA | 1,007 | N/A | N/A | 73 |
| Pennco Tech | Bristol, Pennsylvania | 937 | N/A | 89% | 68 |
| Arizona Automotive Institute | Glendale, Arizona | 780 | $31,964 | N/A | 79 |
| McPherson College | McPherson, Kansas | 599 | $22,891 | 87% | 82 |
So you’ve chosen a school and you’re well on your way — good for you! There’s still a great deal to be done, and you can bolster your credentials for a future in automotive work by getting involved with auto-themed clubs and groups. For example, Cal Poly’s Society of Automotive Engineers runs programs every year to build and compete Baja, formula and electric racers.
The future begins now, so check out our list and don’t forget to apply for the CJ Pony Parts Scholarship. You might have the good fortune of attending one of these schools with a little help from the coolest parts shop around!
