2027 Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/general-engineering-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general engineering technology schools.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Technology Schools
Leading the list is St Clair County Community College, our #1 best value for general engineering technology in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,212, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,379 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $45,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $46,493. Set against $18,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for general engineering technology. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Mchenry County College one of the best values for general engineering technology. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,162, while out-of-state students pay about $14,399. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Northwestern Michigan College one of the best values for general engineering technology. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical student debt for general engineering technology graduates is $13,834. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $50,148. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Miami University Middletown landed the #6 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Miami University Middletown is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,012, with out-of-state students paying around $18,811. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $26,325 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $69,483. That is a strong return on a $26,325 median debt.
Wright State University Lake Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Located in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,372 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,072 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,522 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Wright State University Lake Campus earn a median of $43,705 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,522 median debt.
Miami University Hamilton came in at #8 for value in general engineering technology this year. Miami University Hamilton is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Hamilton. Students from in state pay about $7,012 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,811. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $26,325 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of Miami University Hamilton earn a median of $69,483 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #9 spot for general engineering technology value this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $43,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Kent State University At Tuscarawas ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Set in the town of New Philadelphia, Kent State University At Tuscarawas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,211, compared with $17,969 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Early-career general engineering technology graduates make about $45,477. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt.
Western Illinois University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Students borrow a median of $32,373 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $64,762 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,373 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #12 for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $27,274 to complete the general engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $62,117. Set against $27,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus earned the #13 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,844 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $92,148 early in their careers. Set against $19,844 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #14 position for value in general engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $67,461 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Illinois State University placed #15 among the best values for general engineering technology. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. General Engineering Technology graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $55,532 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general engineering technology program here. General Engineering Technology graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $45,477 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Morrison Institute Of Technology ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering technology schools. Morrison Institute Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Morrison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,422. General Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering technology degree recipients from Morrison Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
