2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Automation Engineer Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electromechanical-engineering-technology/automation-engineer-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 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 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. Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Sioux City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $35,742. That is a strong return on a $11,886 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes South Central College one of the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,146. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,450 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of South Central College earn a median of $56,246 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Cloud Technical And Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. In-state tuition and fees average $6,124. Students borrow a median of $17,148 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from St Cloud Technical And Community College generally make around $63,348. Set against $17,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Bismarck State College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, with out-of-state students paying around $7,331. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Bismarck State College earn a median of $77,701 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hawkeye Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, compared with $6,612 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Hawkeye Community College generally make around $41,902. Set against $17,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College placed #6 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. 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. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ridgewater College landed the #7 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Willmar, Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,121. Students borrow a median of $17,196 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $58,968. Set against $17,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Des Moines Area Community College earned the #8 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota West Community And Technical College earned the #9 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Granite Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,491. Students borrow a median of $13,946 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Minnesota West Community And Technical College generally make around $43,009. Set against $13,946 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mitchell Technical Institute landed the #10 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,524. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,831 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Mitchell Technical Institute earn a median of $72,319 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pine Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,738. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $44,905. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Alexandria, Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,236. 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 $55,372. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Central Lakes College Brainerd landed the #13 spot for automation engineer technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $14,479. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Central Lakes College Brainerd generally make around $60,937. That is a strong return on a $14,479 median debt.
Johnson County Community College placed #14 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Johnson County Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Overland Park. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,532 in student loans. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Johnson County Community College earn a median of $46,473 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,532 median debt.
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. 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. Set against $22,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
