2026 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering technologies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 141 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering technologies students.
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2026 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering technologies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Crowder College earned the #1 spot for value among engineering technologies schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,104, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $9,887 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Crowder College generally make around $35,888. Set against $9,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Metropolitan Community College Area came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $45,583. Set against $12,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $10,277. Engineering Technologies graduates of Central Community College earn a median of $43,218 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in engineering technologies will find it at Seward County Community College And Area Technical School, which ranked #4. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, compared with $5,408 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,175. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $53,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Colby Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Colby Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Colby. In-state tuition and fees average $4,140, with out-of-state students paying around $5,830. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $14,796. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $40,598. That is a strong return on a $14,796 median debt.
Northeast Community College came in at #6 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $5,130. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,937 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $70,808. That is a strong return on a $11,937 median debt.
Southeast Community College Area placed #7 among the best values for engineering technologies. Southeast Community College Area is a large public school located in the city of Lincoln. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $13,335 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Southeast Community College Area generally make around $61,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #8 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,630, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,089. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $64,395. Set against $9,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #9 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $36,644. That is a strong return on a $15,866 median debt.
St Charles Community College came in at #10 for value in engineering technologies this year. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,810, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $12,606. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from St Charles Community College generally make around $47,228. That is a strong return on a $12,606 median debt.
Turtle Mountain Community College placed #11 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the rural area of Belcourt, Turtle Mountain Community College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,794. Median earnings reach $32,079 ten years out.
Cowley County Community College came in at #12 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Arkansas City, Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $6,600. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Cowley County Community College generally make around $34,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Iowa Tech Community College landed the #13 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. Set against $11,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
State Fair Community College landed the #14 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Located in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,176, while out-of-state students pay about $7,416. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $39,168. That is a strong return on a $15,328 median debt.
Moberly Area Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,110, compared with $8,640 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,507 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Moberly Area Community College generally make around $44,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bismarck State College landed the #16 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,485 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Bismarck State College generally make around $84,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Neosho County Community College came in at #17 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,704 in tuition and fees. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,209 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $44,672. That is a strong return on a $13,209 median debt.
Kirkwood Community College placed #18 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,983 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $57,716. Set against $15,983 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Century College placed #19 among the best values for engineering technologies. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214. Students borrow a median of $21,332 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. That is a strong return on a $21,332 median debt.
Hawkeye Community College placed #20 among the best values for engineering technologies. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Eastern Iowa Community College District placed #21 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the city of Davenport, Eastern Iowa Community College District is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,848, while out-of-state students pay about $6,456. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $15,995 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $41,510. Set against $15,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
South Central College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,146. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $8,546. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $56,241. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College placed #23 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $18,038. Engineering Technologies graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $60,036 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,038 median debt.
Wichita Area Technical College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,237. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,967. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $36,067. Set against $9,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State College Of Science landed the #25 spot for engineering technologies value this year. North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wahpeton. Students from in state pay about $5,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,973 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $16,268 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of North Dakota State College Of Science earn a median of $55,519 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,268 median debt.
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
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 141 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 39 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.
