RE: Wyotech v.s. UTI?
KC/SK/Whatever initials you want used;
The biggest reason the shops in your area want an "education" (meaning a paper that's worth 20 grand) is because there are SO MANY people in your area with little to no experience in the "Real" workin-on-stuff world that have degrees.
Give Colorado or New Mexico a shot. If you want to be a diesel tech, the work is out there; just gotta look for it. If you want to be a diesel tech in your current area, you gotta do what ya gotta do.