Experience working on and diagnosing vehicles, from what I've seen, speaks louder than a degree in auto tech.
Get your hands dirty. If you got it, you got it. If not, then you don't. No biggie. It sucks to spend 30k plus on an education if you don't end up liking it. Plus that 30k in tools you'll accumulate over the years.
Read books from the library and book store, much cheaper.