Auto Body Program

The auto body program at Minnesota West Community and Technical College prepares students for careers as a custom painter, technician, glass installation technician, welder, metal fabricator, or paint technician. The program focuses on applying technical knowledge and skills to repair, reconstruct, and finish automobile bodies, fenders, and external features. Program courses include: structure analysis, damage repair, non-structural analysis, mechanical and electrical components, plastics and adhesives, painting and refinishing techniques, and damage analysis and estimating. Get more details below including other Minnesota colleges that offer auto body program.

Learn more by requesting information now!

Minnesota West Community and Technical College (M State)

1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, MN

Minnesota West Community and Technical College, located in Granite Falls, Minnesota, was founded in 1997 through the merger of two previous colleges, Worthington Community College and Southwestern Technical College.

The school has five campuses in total, all of which have individual histories stretching back several decades, if not more.  MWCTC is currently part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System which manages and, budgets and maintains most of the public institutions of higher learning throughout the state.

Academics

Minnesota West Community and Technical College is a comprehensive institution that provides various services and programs in order to meet the varied needs of residents within its service area. The school offers technical and career training for individuals seeking to obtain an education that allows for the development of skills and abilities related to the establishment and maintenance of long term careers.

Such programs take between one and two years to complete, often employing instructors with familiarity and expertise in the chosen field, and resulting in a degree or certificate upon completion. The school also offers transfer programs for students wishing to continue their education at higher levels. This allows students to complete their first two years at the college, followed by transfer to a four year institution to complete the final two years and receiving their bachelor's degree.

Programs offered include:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Carpentry
• Cosmetology
• Phlebotomy

Admissions and Financial Aid

Minnesota West Community and Technical College is an open enrollment institution that maintains the most minimal of requirements to be considered for admission, specifically a high school diploma or equivalent. Interested students may submit an application for admission and pay all fees in order to enroll.

Submission of transcripts and standardized test scores is encouraged, and a placement exam may be required for students who do not have them. Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants and scholarships and distributed based on need as determined by the Applicant's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year.

Students Enrolled in the Auto Body Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. M State has offered the following program levels for students:

• Less Than Two-Year Award
• Less Than Four-Year Award

Students by Academic Level (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage

Description

Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.

Automotive Body and Related Repairers

Description

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, automotive body and related repairers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 9.2% from 2014 to 2024

Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers

Description

Replace or repair broken windshields and window glass in motor vehicles.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, automotive glass installers and repairers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 7.8% from 2014 to 2024

Painters, Transportation Equipment

Description

Operate or tend painting machines to paint surfaces of transportation equipment, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, trains, boats, and airplanes. Includes painters in auto body repair facilities.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, painters, transportation equipment employment is expected to grow at a rate of 5.9% from 2014 to 2024

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).