2026 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering technologies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earned the #1 spot for value among engineering technologies schools in Kansas. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $5,408. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,175. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $53,375. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Colby Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #2 spot this year. Colby Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Colby. Students from in state pay about $4,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,830. Students borrow a median of $14,796 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $40,598. Set against $14,796 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Cowley County Community College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Cowley County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Arkansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $6,600. Students borrow a median of $9,312 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $34,099. Set against $9,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Neosho County Community College earned it the #4 place for engineering technologies. Located in the town of Chanute, Neosho County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,704. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,209 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $44,672. Set against $13,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #5 spot this year. 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. Engineering Technologies graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $36,067 early in their careers. Set against $9,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn Institute Of Technology earned the #6 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,880. Students borrow a median of $11,362 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fort Hays State University came in at #7 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,923, while out-of-state students pay about $17,741. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $49,775. That is a strong return on a $25,967 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita State University earned the #8 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $23,875. Engineering Technologies graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $52,066 early in their careers. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Johnson County Community College earned the #9 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $13,532. Engineering Technologies graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $46,473 early in their careers. Set against $13,532 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas placed #10 among the best values for engineering technologies. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $122,538. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Kansas State University earned the #11 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,200 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $64,384 early in their careers. Set against $23,200 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Pittsburg State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $23,080. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $64,090. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita Technical Institute landed the #13 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Technical Institute is a small private for-profit university. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $14,482 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $37,959. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mcpherson College came in at #14 for value in engineering technologies this year. Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of McPherson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,146. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Mcpherson College generally make around $42,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mcpherson College admits about 77% of applicants.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
