2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[Automation Engineer Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electromechanical-engineering-technology/automation-engineer-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong automation engineer technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for automation engineer technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the automation engineer technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Moraine Valley Community College the best value for a degree in automation engineer technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Lorain County Community College one of the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $17,611. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #4 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,525 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $35,348. Set against $12,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Ivy Tech Community College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $11,889. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County came in at #6 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Marion Technical College came in at #7 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Marion, Marion Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,595 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,225. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $48,132. That is a strong return on a $11,828 median debt.
Grand Rapids Community College placed #8 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, while out-of-state students pay about $12,219. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $11,780. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $41,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #9 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #10 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $7,457 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $47,684. Set against $7,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vincennes University earned the #11 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $9,117 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $82,305. That is a strong return on a $9,117 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College came in at #12 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, compared with $7,283 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $58,623 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Technical College placed #13 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the city of Kenosha, Gateway Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,956 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,199 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,829 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $42,410. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #14 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,141. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,812 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Madison Area Technical College earn a median of $44,279 early in their careers. 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.