Automotive Institute
Opening Fall 2025
The $27.9 million building will double the square footage for automotive programming and connect the existing automotive High Technology building to the center of the Longview campus. Learn more about the institute.
The Ford ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program is designed for students interested in beginning their career at a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
The ASSET program leads to a two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree using a curriculum designed by Ford and Metropolitan Community College. It involves attending classroom lectures, laboratory work on Ford products at MCC and cooperative work experience at a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
Students earn while they learn, which can help cover part of the program cost.
Benefits of the Ford ASSET option
- Advanced and specialized training on latest Ford equipment and service procedures.
- Paid cooperative work experience with a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
- Graduates receive an Associate in Applied Science degree in Automotive Technology with options to transfer to a four-year college.
- Students get the preparation to become ASE certified and have the opportunity to earn up to 95% of Ford's Service Technician Specialty Training (STST) credentials. Our ASSET graduates tend to perform extremely well on certification exams.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the ASSET program, the applicant must:
- be 18 years of age or older by the time of first dealer work assignment.
- be able to meet MCC general admission and academic requirement.
- be sponsored by a Ford or Lincoln dealership.
- hold a valid driver's license.
- ASSET is full-time two-year program. Students rotate between the MCC-Longview campus and their sponsoring dealerships in 8-week cycles.
- Students must be full-time and remain continuously enrolled and employed with the dealership.
How to apply
- Complete an online MCC Admissions Application.
- Talk to the ASSET program coordinator about your interest. If you are admitted in a semester that an ASSET group is not beginning, you can still choose to take non-automotive coursework that counts toward the degree. See a Student Success Advisor for assistance in selecting appropriate classes to fit your plans.
- Take the Bennett Mechanical Aptitude test (available only from the MCC-Longview testing center office).
- Interview with the coordinator of the ASSET program to evaluate Bennett scores and get a review of your Ford application.
- Interviews with a sponsoring Ford dealership.
Sponsorships
Many Ford and Lincoln dealerships are looking for ASSET candidates and MCC will coordinate
the placement of students accepted to the program. Students will need to complete
the dealership interview and hiring process.
The dealer agrees to
- employ an ASSET student in a rotating cooperative work-study experience,
- supplement the most recent classroom instruction with appropriate work assignments,
- provide the ASSET student-employee with work uniforms consistent with other employees and
- appoint a person to coordinate the dealership-classroom experiences.
Tuition and program fees
Tuition, fees, books and personal tools are the responsibility of the individual student. Total cost of the two-year program is approximately $13,000. This includes books, but not personal tools (which must be approved by the MCC ASSET Coordinator) and cost approximately $1,500-$2,000. View program cost breakdown by semester (PDF).
Explore the many financial aid choices - grants, loans, program scholarships, veterans benefits, and more - to help fund your education.
Discounts for tools will be available through college and dealership contacts. Regular college financial assistance is available for qualified students through the MCC financial aid office.
Accreditation
The MCC automotive program is accredited by ASE Education Foundation.
Careers
Visit Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to view salary information, employment outlook and personal characteristics needed
for this career.
Transfer made simple
Whatever your transfer destination, we'll work to make sure your credits move easily.
That's why we're experts at it. We've worked out specific transfer agreements with many four-year colleges and universities.
Please check with a Student Success Advisor for transfer information.