2027 Best Value Lineworker Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Lineworker](/majors/construction-trades/electrical-power-transmission-installers/lineworker/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong lineworker education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for lineworker students.
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2027 Best Value Lineworker Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in lineworker, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Lineworker Schools
For return on investment in lineworker, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,375, with out-of-state students paying around $4,950. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $12,350 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $64,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozarks Technical Community College earned it the #2 place for lineworker. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $15,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Ozarks Technical Community College generally make around $62,177. That is a strong return on a $15,866 median debt.
Western Nebraska Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in lineworker, landing the #3 spot this year. Western Nebraska Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Scottsbluff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,840, with out-of-state students paying around $4,410. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $14,507. Lineworker graduates of Western Nebraska Community College earn a median of $62,413 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,507 median debt.
Marshalltown Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value lineworker schools. Marshalltown Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marshalltown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,496, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $6,837 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $43,768. That is a strong return on a $6,837 median debt.
Northeast Community College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value lineworker schools. Located in the town of Norfolk, Northeast Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,840, compared with $5,130 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Northeast Community College generally make around $59,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bismarck State College earned the #6 position for value in lineworker this year. Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,666 to complete the lineworker program here. Lineworker graduates of Bismarck State College earn a median of $52,959 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,666 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #7 position for value in lineworker this year. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the lineworker program here. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College landed the #8 spot for lineworker value this year. Set in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,491 in tuition and fees. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $11,089 in student loans. Lineworker graduates of Minnesota West Community And Technical College earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Set against $11,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for lineworker value this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Typical student debt for lineworker graduates is $8,939. Lineworker graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $50,776 early in their careers. Set against $8,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Technical Institute came in at #10 for value in lineworker this year. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $7,524 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $8,750 to complete the lineworker program here. Lineworker graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $55,180 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dakota County Technical College landed the #11 spot for lineworker value this year. Dakota County Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Rosemount. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,679. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $11,974 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Dakota County Technical College generally make around $58,703. That is a strong return on a $11,974 median debt.
Northwest Iowa Community College came in at #12 for value in lineworker this year. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. In-state tuition and fees average $7,350, compared with $7,650 for out-of-state students. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lineworker degree recipients from Northwest Iowa Community College generally make around $78,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College landed the #13 spot for lineworker value this year. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,160, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Lineworker graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career lineworker graduates make about $54,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
