2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Civil Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/civil-engineering-technology/civil-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for civil engineering technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Civil Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the civil engineering technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Civil Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
For return on investment in civil engineering technology/technician, no school beat South Central College this year. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,268 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology/technician degree recipients from South Central College generally make around $55,224. Set against $13,268 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at St Cloud Technical And Community College earned it the #2 place for civil engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Students borrow a median of $16,734 to complete the civil engineering technology/technician program here. Early-career civil engineering technology/technician graduates make about $48,652. That is a strong return on a $16,734 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in civil engineering technology/technician will find it at Hawkeye Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for civil engineering technology/technician graduates is $17,001. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering technology/technician schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Northwest Kansas Technical College one of the best values for civil engineering technology/technician. Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public school located in the town of Goodland. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
Linn State Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value civil engineering technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Civil Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $45,538. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeast Technical Institute landed the #7 spot for civil engineering technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Sioux Falls, Southeast Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,650. Students borrow a median of $18,442 to complete the civil engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, civil engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Southeast Technical Institute generally make around $48,654. That is a strong return on a $18,442 median debt.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.