Diesel mechanic training in Montana

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

2 schools offer these diesel mechanic programs, and Montana 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 Montana, all 3 programs take students without a high school diploma.

By kind, the 3 programs here are diesel technology (associate degree, 2 programs) and diesel technician certificate or diploma (1 program).

See the 3 programs

How much does diesel mechanic training cost in Montana?

$7,310 to $12,920

from the lowest-priced program to the highest, if you pay yourself

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not enough data; 2 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length: Not enough data; 3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

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

Is there free diesel mechanic training in Montana?

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.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵
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. These programs cost $7,310 to $12,920.

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

All 3 diesel mechanic programs in Montana approved for WIOA funding

3 programs

Diesel technology (associate degree)HybridNo diploma needed
Diesel Technology AS
Msu - Northern
Havre
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Msu - Northern, HavreDiesel technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$50,300
Price if you pay yourselfNot reported
Program website, Diesel Technology AS at Msu - Northern
More details about Diesel Technology AS at Msu - Northern
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
67%
Earned in a quarter
$12,578
Length
60 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
Not reported
Students counted
14
Earned a year, estimated
$50,300
Price if you pay yourself
Not reported
Program website, Diesel Technology AS at Msu - Northern
Diesel technology (associate degree)In personNo diploma needed
Diesel Technology AAS
Msu - Billings/City College
Billings
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Msu - Billings/City College, BillingsDiesel technology (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimated$53,800
Price if you pay yourself$12,920
Program website, Diesel Technology AAS at Msu - Billings/City College
More details about Diesel Technology AAS at Msu - Billings/City College
Finished
100%
Working at 6 months
93%
Earned in a quarter
$13,458
Length
30 weeks, 35 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
13
Earned a year, estimated
$53,800
Price if you pay yourself
$12,920
Program website, Diesel Technology AAS at Msu - Billings/City College
Diesel technician certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed
Diesel Technology Certification
Msu - Billings/City College
Billings
Accredited school
No diploma needed
Msu - Billings/City College, BillingsDiesel technician certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$7,310
Program website, Diesel Technology Certification at Msu - Billings/City College
More details about Diesel Technology Certification at Msu - Billings/City College
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
30 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$7,310
Program website, Diesel Technology Certification at Msu - Billings/City College

How to pay for diesel mechanic training in Montana

WIOA funding can pay for diesel mechanic training in Montana

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.

Other training in Montana

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

Where the Montana diesel mechanic program numbers come from

Which Montana diesel mechanic programs are on this list?

These are the diesel mechanic programs Montana 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 Montana offers.

How the prices and results of Montana 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 Montana

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