Top 5 Auto Body Paint and Repair Colleges

People who work in auto body paint and repair are called collision repair technicians or auto body technicians. They use their training and technical expertise to repair all manner of dents and body damage to vehicles of all types, from cars and trucks to trailers and buses.

Though a person can technically be employed in the auto body repair field with only a high school diploma or equivalent, many repair shops prefer workers who have undergone formal two-year training and certification from a trade or technical college. Some universities in the United States also offer programs and certification in the auto body repair field. There are three top-tier auto body repair and paint programs in the United States:

Utah Valley University: Orem, UT

In an article published by the Education Portal, Utah Valley University was cited as having the largest population of auto body technician students in the United States. The school has a unique Department of Automotive Technology, unique amongst most other accredited universities, which offers a variety of relevant majors. These include collision repair technology, diesel mechanics technology, technology management and automotive technology. This combination of majors offer the student a number of different program options, such as a certificate, diploma, associate or bachelor's degree. As to be expected, hands-on training is emphasized just as much as classroom study.

Ohio Technical College: Cleveland, OH

This program is unique in its offering of the BMW FAST Track program as well as other specialized training programs. Hands-on training and mock real life experiences prepare the students for job placement. Certificate and associate degrees are offered.

New England Institute of Technology: Warwick, RI

This program combines an emphasis on both technical expertise and practical hands-on experience. NE Tech also offers a unique focus on green technology both in its campus and as it relates to the automotive industry. Solar panels and wind turbines are used on campus to create green energy and a curriculum based around environmentally conscious automotive technology is offered, specifically focusing on hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels.

Two other well respected programs in the auto body repair field include:

New York Automotive and Diesel Institute

• Jamaice, NY


• Offers a Master Certified Collision Repair Technician program

Lincoln Technical Institute

• East Windsor, CT


• Offers training and certification in Collision Repair