2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast 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.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools.
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2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast 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
Spartanburg Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools in the Southeast Region. Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Spartanburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $41,598. That is a strong return on a $9,250 median debt.
Hillsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,491 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,088 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $16,142. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cleveland Community College earned it the #3 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the town of Shelby, Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,602, with out-of-state students paying around $8,746. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $7,131. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Cleveland Community College earn a median of $39,891 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,131 median debt.
Chattanooga State Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $12,079. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. Set against $12,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Manatee Technical College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,726 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $38,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College landed the #6 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,300, with out-of-state students paying around $5,868. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,492 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Georgia Northwestern Technical College generally make around $41,229. That is a strong return on a $8,492 median debt.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College came in at #7 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Randolph Community College placed #8 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the town of Asheboro, Randolph Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,416, compared with $8,176 for out-of-state students. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $32,198.
Seminole State College Of Florida ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,122, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $18,419. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Seminole State College Of Florida earn a median of $48,049 early in their careers. Set against $18,419 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Piedmont Technical College came in at #10 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Greenwood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, with out-of-state students paying around $6,923. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $53,518. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Louisiana Tech University earned the #11 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $23,846 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $49,261. Set against $23,846 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
College Of Central Florida ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. College Of Central Florida is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Ocala. In-state tuition and fees average $2,710, while out-of-state students pay about $10,517. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $18,934. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of College Of Central Florida earn a median of $48,055 early in their careers. Set against $18,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Withlacoochee Technical College earned the #13 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Inverness, Withlacoochee Technical College is a small public university. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Withlacoochee Technical College earn a median of $31,738 early in their careers.
Lake Technical College landed the #14 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Eustis, Lake Technical College is a small public institution. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,612 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $34,319. That is a strong return on a $10,612 median debt.
Ecpi University came in at #15 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Students borrow a median of $37,952 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Ecpi University generally make around $64,359. That is a strong return on a $37,952 median debt. Ecpi University admits about 74% of applicants.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,056 in tuition and fees. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $36,416 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Keiser University Ft Lauderdale earn a median of $45,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale admits about 97% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.