2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States 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
For return on investment in automation engineer technology/technician, no school beat Western Iowa Tech Community College this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,186, compared with $5,330 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bismarck State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $12,000. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $77,701. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Hawkeye Community College, which ranked #3. Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Waterloo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,525, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $17,001. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at South Central College earned it the #4 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,146. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $8,450. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of South Central College earn a median of $56,246 early in their careers. Set against $8,450 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pine Technical College earned it the #5 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,738. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of $44,905 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #6 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. In-state tuition and fees average $5,940. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,465 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Hennepin Technical College generally make around $71,199. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
Ridgewater College earned the #7 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,196 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $58,968. That is a strong return on a $17,196 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #8 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Students borrow a median of $14,956 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer 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.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College placed #9 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,491 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $43,009. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington earned the #10 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,420, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $45,760. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexandria Technical And Community College placed #11 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $12,000. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $55,372. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #12 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $22,635. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $75,667. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Minnesota State College Southeast Technical came in at #13 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the town of Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,432. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $22,522. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $50,290. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
