2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in automation engineer technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools
Washtenaw Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $17,616. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lorain County Community College earned it the #2 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $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. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lansing Community College earned it the #4 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,700 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $46,103. That is a strong return on a $16,700 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Oakton Community College, which ranked #5. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,462. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $7,750. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County placed #6 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #7 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vincennes University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, compared with $16,858 for out-of-state students. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #9 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $13,319. 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.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #10 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,889 in tuition and fees, 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. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. Set against $7,457 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Madison Area Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public university. 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. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $44,279. Set against $16,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kent State University At Kent placed #12 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Kent State University At Kent is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kent. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
[Automation Engineer Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electromechanical-engineering-technology/automation-engineer-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.
