2026 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Communications Technologies & Support](/majors/communications-tech-support/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 96 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value communications technologies & support schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the communications technologies & support degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools
Lake Land College earned the #1 spot for value among communications technologies & support schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, compared with $14,301 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,769 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support 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.
Moraine Valley Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $11,149. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. That is a strong return on a $11,149 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in communications technologies & support will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #3. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lansing Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in communications technologies & support, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #6 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $33,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #8 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,249. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $16,294 early in their careers. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College came in at #9 for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $11,995. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kellogg Community College landed the #10 spot for communications technologies & support value this year. Kellogg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Battle Creek. Students from in state pay about $4,118 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,282 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $20,432 in student loans. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $32,616. Set against $20,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage placed #11 among the best values for communications technologies & support. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $12,492. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harper College placed #12 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. In-state tuition and fees average $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $10,963. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Set against $10,963 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College earned the #13 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #14 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. In-state tuition and fees average $5,517, with out-of-state students paying around $10,044. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $13,511. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $27,936 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $9,041. Median earnings reach $39,435 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #16 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,296 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College came in at #17 for value in communications technologies & support this year. Set in the suburb of Blue Ash, University Of Cincinnati Blue Ash College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,106, compared with $15,904 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $12,000. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $25,668. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Illinois College earned the #18 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Southwestern Illinois College is a large public school located in the suburb of Belleville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Students borrow a median of $10,388 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Southwestern Illinois College earn a median of $44,345 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College came in at #20 for value in communications technologies & support this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $14,997. Early-career communications technologies & support graduates make about $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College placed #21 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana University Bloomington earned the #22 position for value in communications technologies & support this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. That is a strong return on a $20,542 median debt. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Ferris State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value communications technologies & support schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,778. Communications Technologies & Support graduates carry a median of $20,080 in student loans. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $30,373 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Madison Area Technical College landed the #24 spot for communications technologies & support value this year. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,977, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the communications technologies & support program here. Soon after graduation, communications technologies & support degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ball State University placed #25 among the best values for communications technologies & support. Set in the city of Muncie, Ball State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,082, with out-of-state students paying around $29,630. Typical student debt for communications technologies & support graduates is $24,518. Communications Technologies & Support graduates of Ball State University earn a median of $47,863 early in their careers. Set against $24,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ball State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 39 Best Value Communications Technologies & Support Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for communications technologies & support this year:
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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 · 96 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
