2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region

[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong automation engineer technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest 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
Leading the list is Pima Community College, our #1 best value for automation engineer technology/technician in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, compared with $7,758 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,655 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Pima Community College generally make around $40,977. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
Midland College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Midland, Midland College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,180, with out-of-state students paying around $6,180. Students borrow a median of $9,000 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Midland College generally make around $43,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Clovis, Clovis Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,592, while out-of-state students pay about $3,344. Students borrow a median of $11,082 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Clovis Community College earn a median of $44,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,082 median debt.
Texas State Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Texas State Technical College earn a median of $63,886 early in their careers. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earned it the #5 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,774 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,384 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,356 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Oklahoma State University Institute Of Technology Okmulgee earn a median of $52,354 early in their careers. Set against $13,356 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Canadian Valley Technology Center landed the #6 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Located in the rural area of El Reno, Canadian Valley Technology Center is a mid-sized public university. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $46,777.
Mesa Community College earned the #7 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $13,750. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Narrow Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools by State
More Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.