Diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

16 diesel mechanic programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

8 schools offer these diesel mechanic programs, and Minnesota has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Diesel mechanics inspect and repair buses and trucks and maintain diesel engines of every kind. Community colleges and technical schools offer certificates and degrees in diesel repair, employers may require or prefer certification, and some jobs need a commercial driver's license to test-drive trucks and buses.¹ Under federal rules, anyone paid to handle the refrigerant in a truck's cab air conditioning must be certified by an EPA-approved program.²

In Minnesota, all 16 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 16 programs here are diesel technology (associate degree, 5 programs), medium and heavy truck technician (5 programs), diesel technician certificate or diploma (3 programs), heavy equipment mechanic (2 programs), and 1 more of one other kind.

See the 16 programs

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Minnesota?

Certificates and short courses (11 programs): $5,085 to $7,401most of them, usually 30 to 60 weeks long
Two-year degrees (5 programs): $12,721 to $13,572most of them, usually 120 weeks long

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it. "Most" is the middle half of the programs with a price.

In the typical program

Finished the program: 73%
Working 6 months later: 77%
Earned a year, estimated: about $45,400
Length: 52 to 120 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Minnesota may also offer diesel mechanic training. How these figures are made

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Minnesota?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 4 people at 1 of the 16 programs here.
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Certificates and short courses here mostly cost $5,085 to $7,401.Two-year degrees here mostly cost $12,721 to $13,572.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

How to pay for diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for diesel mechanic training

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for diesel mechanic training

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare: 14th of 26
other states where the typical program's graduates earned less: 12 of 13
diesel mechanic programs here, against the typical state's 8: 16 vs 8

State comparisons use the same figures as the diesel mechanic training by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Diesel mechanic training in Minneapolis, Alexandria, Fargo and other Minnesota cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 7 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Minnesota

How diesel mechanic training compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Minnesota

Where the Minnesota diesel mechanic program numbers come from

Which Minnesota diesel mechanic programs are on this list?

These are the diesel mechanic programs Minnesota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Minnesota offers.

How the prices and results of Minnesota diesel mechanic programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

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Diesel mechanic training in Minnesota

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Minnesota?

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Minnesota?

All 16 diesel mechanic programs in Minnesota approved for WIOA funding

Diesel Mechanics

Heavy Duty Truck Technology

Medium Heavy Truck Technology

Diesel Equipment Technology

Diesel Equipment Technician

Medium/Heavy Truck Technician

Basic Diesel

Diesel Powertrain and Hydraulics

Advanced Diesel

Diesel Mechanics (Ag and Truck)

Diesel Technician (Ag and Truck)

Truck Technician

Medium Heavy Truck Maintenance Technician

Medium Heavy Truck Drivetrain Technician

Diesel Technology

Truck Fleet Maintenance