Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Automotive Mechanics
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Tri-C, Columbus State Community College, Lorain County Community College, and Stark State.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider University of Northwestern Ohio, Tri-C, and Cincinnati State.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Tri-C, Sinclair Community College, Stark State, and Owens Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Ohio Technical College, University of Northwestern Ohio, Washington State Community College, and Cincinnati State.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of University of Northwestern Ohio.
Excellence
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Ohio Technical College and Washington State Community College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
Stark State College Of Technology • Canton, OH
Studying Automotive And Transportation Technology (completion in 2011)
• 1/4/2012
"I left Stark State with a solid career after graduation, and a good income thus far. However, I feel sometimes like I may have missed out on the opportunities and fields of study that a larger college may have offered."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | If you are certain in wanting to work in the automotive technology field, then I would suggest Stark State if you are from the area, as tuition is low and scholarships are prevalent with somewhat decent grades. However, if you think that other parts of the field may be more suited towards you, such as the engineering and design side of automotive, you may want to consider some of the city or state colleges like Ohio State, Akron, or Cincinnati. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Stark State has a good reputation for their degrees in automotive repair/technology, and graduates are fervently sought after by local garages. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Most of the instruction was hands on, which is the best way to learn automotive repair. However, more emphasis was placed upon drive train repair/maintenance rather than suspension, frame, electronics, and fuel systems. |
| Instruction | 8 | The curriculum was very in tune with what is required for this field of work. However, many topics were not covered to the depth they should have, especially since electronic control of engine systems has been industry standard for over ten years. |
| How Difficult | 4 | Many of the classes were graded easily, with no advanced mathematics required. Some advanced science classes were required, which was a combination of general chemistry and physics. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Most of the classes taken were in depth instruction on repair, including one class specifically designed around overhead valve-train repair. However, classes more oriented towards ensuring certification would be easy to pass. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Due to the nature of my degree being so hands on, the flexibility was not entirely there. Online options were nonexistent, yet weekend, evening, and summer offerings were prevalent. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | Stark State is a community college, and as such the number of options available are somewhat limited. Libraries, especially for my field of study, are nonexistent. Classroom spaces for automotive technology are quite dated due to continuing focus on electronics and mechanization degrees. |
| Social Life | 1 | Stark State is a community college, very few social clubs exist. Parties are nonexistent as there is no on campus living, and school spirit is nonexistent as we had no athletics. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Within two months of receiving my degree and completing my ASE certifications, the career services office and their staff were able to find me a large opening for my career field. |
| Alumni Network | Being that I have only recently graduated, I haven't really attempted to use the alumni support. That said, my impressions are that it leaves much to be desired. |
Stark State College Of Technology • North Canton, OH
Studying Automotive Technology (completion in 2011)
• 3/7/2012
"The program was flexible and comprehensive. It provided all the necessary tools to enter into the field."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Because of the flexibility, almost anyone can attend. Many retirees or those who have been laid off should investigate the college. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | They have career placement services that place them within the community. It is also the most popular institution for the field in the community. |
| Program Quality | 5 | Most degree programs are in specific manufacturers. This lacks the comprehensive education of all auto makers. |
| Instruction | 7 | The instructors were educated and had worked in the field. They had a firm grasp of real work applications. |
| How Difficult | 3 | Having been working mechanically for many years, the education was a refresher. It also showed me new methods. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Because the program is accelerated, it is almost completely hands on. This provides a better experience when it comes to entering the workforce. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They provide scheduling at all hours. This is because of the school's reputation amongst older students who work and have families. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | They have the newest technology available for the program. They also provide all necessary tools for the real world. |
| Social Life | 5 | Most students keep to themselves. Because the students are older, it's generally difficult to find other people you can relate to. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school's network is large for career placement. Most graduating students are able to be placed quickly. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni network per se. The graduation and certificate programs are usually abandoned by students. |
Columbus State Community College • Columbus, OH
Studying ASSET Program (completion in 1999)
• 3/4/2012
"Got me a good job doing what I like. It's not CSCC's fault that my dealership closed."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I wouldn't get into the american auto industry right now. But if you have to get into it, the ASSET program isn't a bad way to do that. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Most people who graduate from CSCC are looked down upon as 2nd class citizens in town. |
| Program Quality | 8 | It was good, but there needed to be more diverse training. While we were supposed to work for Ford exclusively, some in my class were sent to Mazda and Volvo dealers. |
| Instruction | 8 | Hands on work was good, texts were pretty current. Gave us exposure to most of the computer diagnostics we were going to need. Changing oil and replacing a fuel pump are pretty standard, but learning how to read codes, etc was good. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Not hard for me, but I've been doing this for quite some time. I've been fixing cars since I was 15. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Extremely hands on. Some reading outside of the classroom, but for the most part we were in there doing it. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | You had 1 set of hours to be there, and this included some Saturdays. 6 day weeks are not fun when you are trying to work and go to school. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | We had access to everything we needed to train. Would have been nice if we had more, better computers. |
| Social Life | 4 | It was ok, I still have 2 friends from the ASSET program. But for the most part, I don't care about anyone that I met at CSCC. |
| Placement Services | 9 | Like I said, I was put directly into a dealership. Others were not so lucky as to get a preferred dealer, but they still were working right out of school. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | I lost my job at Ford when the dealership was sold to another dealership in town and they now sell Toyotas. Had to get in on the ground floor with the local Nissan dealer. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.