2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 135 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering technologies students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering technologies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in engineering technologies in the Great Lakes Region. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Macomb Community College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $8,296. Engineering Technologies graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $44,701 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Lake Land College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,769 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $43,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Valley Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,385. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $8,099. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $33,224. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #6 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $60,223 early in their careers. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alpena Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Alpena, Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,840, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $10,000 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Alpena Community College earn a median of $60,063 early in their careers. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Triton College came in at #8 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,070, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $12,994. Engineering Technologies graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earned the #9 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,924 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $48,673. That is a strong return on a $12,924 median debt.
Schoolcraft College placed #10 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $15,677. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $57,104. That is a strong return on a $15,677 median debt.
Lorain County Community College earned the #11 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $23,598 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College placed #12 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,220, compared with $25,830 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $60,509. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakton Community College landed the #13 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Henry Ford Community College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $18,876 median debt.
Lincoln Land Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $3,744, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $11,272. Engineering Technologies graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $43,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,272 median debt.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #16 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $14,636. Engineering Technologies graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $15,000. Engineering Technologies graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $42,813 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Central State College earned the #18 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,786, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Students borrow a median of $12,236 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of North Central State College earn a median of $47,458 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,236 median debt.
Sinclair Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $56,608. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,144 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $18,000. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $46,493. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Area Community College landed the #21 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,440, compared with $7,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,470. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. Set against $9,470 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
St Clair County Community College came in at #23 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the suburb of Port Huron, St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,212, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Students borrow a median of $16,379 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from St Clair County Community College generally make around $45,735. Set against $16,379 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oakland Community College landed the #24 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,560. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $45,844. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Stark State College earned the #25 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $11,765. Engineering Technologies graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $67,077 early in their careers. Set against $11,765 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in engineering technologies:
Narrow Engineering Technologies Schools by State
More Engineering Technologies Rankings
View All Engineering Technologies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 135 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 135 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.
