Movies make fast cars look incredibly glamorous. Beyond the attractive actors, the vehicles themselves provide much of the sex appeal in films like the Fast and Furious series, Need for Speed, Talladega Nights, and Baby Driver. We’ve been making and watching these movies since 1958 with Thunder Road, and we still love the history of how we got the amazing models we have today.
Designing, building, and maintaining vehicles involves significant expertise—both on the racing track and on public roads. If you want to focus your time and expertise on designing and building passenger cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, or racing vehicles, you’re in luck. Dozens of colleges and universities offer automotive engineering degrees that can get you there. In this guide, we’ll walk through the best automotive engineering universities and colleges with automotive programs, plus what degree you actually need to work in automotive or EV engineering .
Types of Automotive Degrees
Depending on your career goals, you can earn various degrees, certificates, and diplomas. Most certificates and diplomas help you secure a job in a shop, while bachelor’s degrees or higher lead to managerial or higher-level roles, including design and research positions.
Bachelor’s degrees in Automotive Engineering are less common than other degree types, but several institutions provide the instruction and hands-on learning required for a career in automotive. The most common four-year degree is a Bachelor’s in Automotive Engineering Technology, though many colleges also offer a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with concentrations or minors in automotive areas.
Here’s a quick overview of different degree focuses:
| Degree Type | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| Automobile/Automotive Engineering (B.S.) | Entirely focused on design, manufacturing, and operation of motorcycles, automobiles, and trucks |
| Mechanical Engineering (B.S.) | Broadest engineering degree covering any mechanical system, overlapping aerospace, metallurgical, civil, electrical, chemical, manufacturing, industrial, and biomedical engineering |
The Difference Between an Automotive Engineer and an Auto Mechanic
Both roles are essential in the automotive world but work at different stages. Automotive Engineers handle designing vehicles, updating existing features, research, and development. Once consumers use a vehicle, Auto Mechanics take over, overseeing repairs and maintenance at shops, dealerships, and auto parts stores .
Best Colleges for Automotive Engineering & Mechanics Programs
The following institutions are organized by acceptance rate. These represent the best automotive and mechanical engineering degree programs available.
Brigham-Young University–Idaho
Rexburg, Idaho
Brigham-Young University in Idaho offers three Bachelor of Science degrees through their Automotive Technology Program: Automotive Engineering Technology, Advanced Vehicle Systems, and Automotive Technology Management. This ASE-certified program emphasizes hands-on experience with significant time in labs and test courses. Students can participate in the SAE Supermileage Team competing annually in Marshall, Michigan .
Clemson University
Clemson, South Carolina
Clemson University was an early pioneer in bachelor’s degrees in Automotive Engineering—the first students to earn degrees in this space graduated from Clemson! Students partake in “Deep Orange,” a framework immersing students into the world of a future OEM or supplier. Beyond a Bachelor of Science, students can pursue a Master of Science and even PhD in Automotive Engineering at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in nearby Greenville, featuring OEM/supplier partnerships for vehicle, manufacturing, and autonomy .
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan
Ferris State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Engineering Technology (AET) and a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Management (AMGT). Students gain hands-on laboratory experience in metallurgy, mechanical testing, vehicle emissions, and dynamometer testing, plus an on-the-job internship. FSU also features two automotive certificate programs in motorsports and machinery .
Idaho State University
Pocatello, Idaho
For technicians, Idaho State University offers several programs in its College of Science and Engineering. The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Automotive Technology and Advanced Technical Certificate in Automotive Technology is just the beginning—students can also earn an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Collision Repair and Refinishing, plus three certificate options .
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana
Indiana State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Engineering Technology. This four-year program prepares students for automotive industry careers by focusing on technical and managerial skills related to design, theory of operation, testing, and management. Curriculum includes vehicle testing, design support and analysis, NVH, and engine research .
Kettering University
Flint, Michigan
Kettering University offers a Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s with concentrations including Automotive Engineering Design, Machine Design & Advanced Materials, and Alternative Energy. The university houses labs like an Advanced Engine Research Lab, Crash Safety Center, and Energy Systems Lab. Its co-op program means students graduate with up to two and a half years of experience .
McPherson College
McPherson, Kansas
McPherson College runs a unique automotive program—the only one of its kind in the nation. Focusing on automotive restoration, the program emphasizes Historic Automotive Technology, Automotive Restoration Management, Automotive Communications, Design, and Technology. Students access specialized equipment in a 33,000-square-foot facility .
Minnesota State University–Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
The Bachelor of Science in Automotive Engineering Technology (AET) program prepares students for careers in product research, design and development, manufacturing, and technical sales. Outside class, students can join the MSU Drag Race Team and the Society of Automotive Engineers .
Pennsylvania College of Technology
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania College of Technology offers three Bachelor of Science programs: Automotive Technology Management (on-campus and online), Automotive Service, Sales, and Marketing, and Automotive Technology. Within Automotive Technology, students can choose majors for Ford ASSET, Honda PACT, and MOPAR CAP through company partnerships. Students can earn up to 8 industry certifications including ASE .
Purdue University
Indianapolis, Indiana
The Purdue School of Engineering & Technology offers a Bachelor of Science in Motorsports Engineering—the first university in the US to offer such a degree. Featuring engineering curriculum with vehicle dynamics, aerodynamics, and data acquisition, students are ready for the racing industry. Students can also opt for a dual degree in Motorsports and Mechanical Engineering .
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
The University of Michigan Mechanical Engineering program is ABET-accredited. The undergraduate degree broadly studies mechanical engineering but includes courses required for automotive industry knowledge. The university conducts extensive automotive research and has numerous design teams to participate in .
The University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas
At the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department, the Bachelor’s of Mechanical Engineering focuses on designing cars, autonomous vehicles, and robots. Students can gain practical work experience through the Co-op/Internship Office, apply to faculty labs, or join the UTA Racing Formula SAE team. The Automotive Engineering Certificate through the Arnold E. Petsche Center affirms commitment to automotives .
Walla Walla University
College Place, Washington
Walla Walla University is one of 15 schools nationwide offering a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology or Automotive Management. Students gain hands-on (PAID) experience at the University Auto on-campus repair shop with unrestricted automotive lab access. The university also offers an ABET-accredited Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree with Depth Electives like Alternative Energy Systems .
Best Automotive Engineering Schools FAQs
What’s the difference between automotive engineering, automotive technology, and mechanical engineering?
- Automotive engineering (AE): Design-focused engineering major (or ME concentration) covering vehicle dynamics, powertrain/EV systems, controls, and validation
- Mechanical engineering (ME): Broader (fluids, heat transfer, design, materials, controls) often offering automotive concentration—great for flexibility across industries
- Automotive technology / Automotive Engineering Technology (AET): Hands-on and applied (diagnostics, testing, calibration, manufacturing, service engineering), emphasizing labs and shop skills over heavy theory
What degree do you need for automotive engineering or to work in the auto/EV industry?
A bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, or automotive engineering is the typical requirement for working in the auto/EV industry. Many roles, especially for specialization or leadership, benefit from or require a master’s degree .
What degree is best for automotive engineering?
For R&D and design roles: B.S. Mechanical Engineering (with automotive concentration), or B.S. in Automotive Engineering where offered. For applied roles in testing/service/operations: B.S. in Automotive Engineering Technology or A.S. + certificates .
Are there colleges with automotive programs that aren’t full engineering?
Yes. Many universities run automotive technology, high-performance, collision, diesel, and management programs at associate and bachelor levels (e.g., Weber State, UNOH, Utah Valley, MSU–Northern) .
Is automotive engineering a major at every university?
No. It’s less common than mechanical engineering. Many students major in Mechanical Engineering and add automotive electives, projects, and internships .
Ready to find your perfect college? Take Appily’s free college majors quiz to narrow down your options and discover which automotive engineering path fits you best. Find your college