Even though many use them interchangeably, auto mechanics and technicians are not the same. Here are their differences: automotive technician vs. mechanic.
West Region Road
First of all, we would like to welcome you to the first installment in our new series, The Best Automotive Schools by Region! It’s simple really, we are going across the United States to find the 5 best automotive schools in each region. This week we are looking at the West region and we will continue eastward, region by region, until we hit every region in the country. So, stick around and check back each week for the next five weeks to see the best schools in the United States!
To determine which schools were in fact the best automotive schools in the west, we had to come up with a few parameters. To start, we looked at graduation rate. We decided that this was an important first step as it gives a glimpse into the student body’s view of the school. If students enjoy the school, they should have a higher graduation rate. With smaller community colleges, this isn’t as important though because one of their main goals is to get students to transfer to larger universities. Next, we examined the median salary of former students 10 years after they attended the school. Third, we found the average annual cost to attend each school before finally ending with the average debt a student graduates with.
Although these aren’t all the factors that go into making a college great, they can help us get a glimpse into the caliber of certain schools. Before we made our final picks, we then went through and made sure that each school was a certified program by the ASE Education Foundation. Although we cannot guarantee your financial situation will match any of the numbers we have presented, we can guarantee that each of the 5 best automotive schools in the west offer something great. In order to find all of this information, we utilized the amazing tools from College Scorecard.
De Anza College is a great school to attend for many reasons on top of the great financial situation. The school is the top Silicon Valley college for transfers and it is often the top school to transfer students to University of California, California State University and other private universities. If you are looking to earn your Associate’s Degree and go on to a university for more training, this is the school for you!
On top of those facts, 85% of Renton Technical College graduates are employed within just 9 months after graduation. Along with that, their 59% graduation rate is the highest in Washington for community colleges and career schools. Lastly, RTC is a very inclusive schools as 60% of the student body is represented by students of color. RTC welcomes all who want to succeed making it one of the best automotive schools in the west!
Being founded in 1966, WyoTech has quite the history! The last 15 years for the school were a little shaky with multiple different owners but just in 2018 a former WyoTech president and alumni decided to purchase the Laramie campus from the previous group owner. The previous owners were closing all the campuses across the U.S. to pursue other opportunities. In just a short period, the new leadership has made a large impact and the future is bright for WyoTech and any student who studies there.
Founded in 1915, Citrus College is the oldest community college in LA County and the fifth oldest in all of California. They really have figured out how to build a solid institution through diversity. Over 80% of the Citrus College student body is of color and the school has been recognized as the favorite community and career college in the region. They offer 50 associates degrees, 65 certificates, and 19 transfer degrees. All of this (and more) make Citrus College the fourth best automotive school in the west!
Ventura College was the first college in Ventura County and has since spawned community colleges in Moorpark and Oxnard. The college in Ventura offers 33 majors in associate of arts and associate of science. Because of the community’s commitment to Ventura College, the school has undergone a multitude of improvements within the last 10 years. For example, a new sports complex, the Advanced Technology Center, General Purposes Classroom Building and the Health Sciences Center.
After considering these schools, it’s important to reach out to the few you are most interested in. Even though some of these schools are a little bit expensive, there are many scholarship opportunities out there for general community college students and specifically for future mechanics. These are the best automotive schools in the west but that does not mean they are the best one for you. Keep in mind all factors necessary when choosing the right school for you. Along with that, there are many great schools throughout the rest of the country so be sure you check back next week to see more of the best schools in the United States!
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