2027 Best Value Lineworker Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Lineworker](/majors/construction-trades/electrical-power-transmission-installers/lineworker/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for lineworker students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Lineworker Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the lineworker degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Lineworker Schools
Our analysis ranked Alpena Community College the best value for a degree in lineworker in the Great Lakes Region. Alpena Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alpena. Students from in state pay about $6,840 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $6,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Alpena Community College generally make around $45,132. Set against $6,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in lineworker will find it at Lansing Community College, which ranked #2. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $16,700. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Ivy Tech Community College one of the best values for lineworker. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $10,262 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $80,734. Set against $10,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Marion Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in lineworker, landing the #4 spot this year. Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,595, with out-of-state students paying around $11,225. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $11,828. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Marion Technical College generally make around $48,132. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Moraine Park Technical College one of the best values for lineworker. Located in the city of Fond du Lac, Moraine Park Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,819, compared with $7,084 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the lineworker program here. Lineworker graduates of Moraine Park Technical College earn a median of $41,051 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #6 position for value in lineworker this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Milwaukee Area Technical College generally make around $38,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Jackson Community College earned the #7 position for value in lineworker this year. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,350 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,200. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the lineworker program here. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $41,322. That is a strong return on a $16,960 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #8 position for value in lineworker this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,179 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $6,707. Lineworker graduates of Grand Rapids Community College earn a median of $34,972 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,707 median debt.
Blackhawk Technical College placed #9 among the best values for lineworker. Blackhawk Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,747, while out-of-state students pay about $6,803. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Lineworker graduates of Blackhawk Technical College earn a median of $44,256 early in their careers. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Buckeye Joint Vocational School ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value lineworker schools. Located in the rural area of New Philadelphia, Buckeye Joint Vocational School is a small public university. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $25,844.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College placed #11 among the best values for lineworker. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $142,516. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College placed #12 among the best values for lineworker. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,203. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $14,997. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $31,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College placed #13 among the best values for lineworker. Set in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $60,950. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earned the #14 position for value in lineworker this year. Set in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, with out-of-state students paying around $7,147. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $5,225 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $53,024. Set against $5,225 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value lineworker schools. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. In-state tuition and fees average $14,322, compared with $19,944 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Northern Michigan University generally make around $53,242. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt. Northern Michigan University admits about 84% of applicants.
Scioto County Career Technical Center earned the #16 position for value in lineworker this year. Located in the rural area of Lucasville, Scioto County Career Technical Center is a small public university. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $10,072 in student loans. Lineworker graduates of Scioto County Career Technical Center earn a median of $30,503 early in their careers. Set against $10,072 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Warren County Career Center earned the #17 position for value in lineworker this year. Located in the rural area of Lebanon, Warren County Career Center is a small public university. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $8,679. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Warren County Career Center generally make around $70,278. That is a strong return on a $8,679 median debt.
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value lineworker schools. Set in the suburb of Brecksville, Cuyahoga Valley Career Center is a small public institution. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $18,596 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $45,874. Set against $18,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
