2023 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering Technology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
27
Ranked Colleges
1,705
Degrees Awarded
$8,100
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Mechanical Engineering Technology is the 132nd most popular major in the country with 6,013 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering technology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $54,639 and had an average of $22,526 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 1,705 mechanical engineering technology graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,611 and $23,101 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 27 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering technology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent mechanical engineering technology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the mechanical engineering technology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering Technology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 23 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $245 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern University.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Northwestern
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 261 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,995 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, this medium-sized public school handed out 88 degrees to qualified ’s ME tech students in 2020-2021.
Cincinnati State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cincinnati State is $3,610 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Cincinnati State
Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Ferris State University landed the #4 spot on the list. Ferris is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 122 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ferris has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ferris State University is $6,577 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Ferris
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Owens Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Owens State Community College is a medium-sized school located in Perrysburg, Ohio that handed out 55 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Owens State Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,505 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Owens Community College.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Owens Community College
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ivy Tech Community College is a large public school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 38 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ivy Tech Community College, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ivy Tech Community College is $6,213 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Ivy Tech Community College Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
Purdue University Northwest ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue University Northwest is a medium-sized school located in Hammond, Indiana that handed out 53 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Purdue Northwest did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue Northwest is $6,775 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Purdue Northwest
Sinclair Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Sinclair Community College is a public institution located in Dayton, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Sinclair Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Sinclair Community College is $3,594 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Sinclair Community College
Michigan Technological University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. This medium-sized school is located in Houghton, Michigan, and it awarded 61 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, Michigan Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $5,520 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Michigan Tech.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Michigan Tech Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
Cuyahoga Community College District ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Cuyahoga Community College District is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s ME tech degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, Cuyahoga Community College District has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cuyahoga Community College District is $3,141 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Cuyahoga Community College District
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. IUPUI is a large school located in Indianapolis, Indiana that handed out 48 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
IUPUI not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for IUPUI is $7,026 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis
Stark State College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in North Canton, Ohio, and it awarded 34 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Stark State College also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. It costs about $5,937 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Stark State College.
Full Stark State College Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
Indiana State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana State is a public institution located in Terre Haute, Indiana. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Indiana State also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana State University is $10,104 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Indiana State Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
With a ranking of #14, Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME tech degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.
PFW also took the #16 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue University Fort Wayne is $7,414 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Purdue University Fort Wayne
With a ranking of #15, Zane State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Zanesville, Ohio, and it awarded 11 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $5,189 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Zane State College.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Zane State College
Youngstown State University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s ME tech degrees to qualified students.
Youngstown State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Youngstown State University is $9,175 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full Youngstown State University Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
With a ranking of #17, Miami University - Hamilton did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Hamilton, Ohio, and it awarded 8 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Hamilton did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $10,607 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Miami University - Hamilton.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Miami University - Hamilton Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
With a ranking of #18, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Wayne State University is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s ME tech degrees to qualified students.
Wayne State also took the #18 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $11,060 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering Technology at Wayne State
Central Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Central Michigan University is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s ME tech degrees to qualified students.
Central Michigan not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $10,805 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Central Michigan
With a ranking of #20, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois. It awarded 92 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $11,665 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
University of Akron Main Campus landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 96 ’s ME tech degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Akron Main Campus, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Akron Main Campus is $14,420 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Toledo did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Toledo is a public institution located in Toledo, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Toledo also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for University of Toledo is $13,803 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at University of Toledo
Miami University - Middletown did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Middletown, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME tech degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
Miami University - Middletown not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Middletown is $8,572 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering Technology at Miami University - Middletown
Kent State University at Kent ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Kent State is a large public school situated in Kent, Ohio. It awarded 15 ’s ME tech degrees in 2020-2021.
Kent State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $13,793 for Great Lakes Region ME Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Kent State University at Kent.
Full Kent State University at Kent Mechanical Engineering Technology Report
Eastern Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Tech Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Ypsilanti, Michigan, this fairly large public school handed out 15 degrees to qualified ’s ME tech students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eastern Michigan, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $12,465 for great lakes region me tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Eastern Michigan.
Full Eastern Michigan University Mechanical Engineering Technology Report