2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in Iowa

[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 4 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 Iowa
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
Leading the list is Western Iowa Tech Community College, our #1 best value for automation engineer technology/technician in Iowa. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,186 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,330. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $11,886. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Western Iowa Tech Community College generally make around $35,742. That is a strong return on a $11,886 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hawkeye Community College earned it the #2 place for automation engineer technology/technician. Set in the rural area of Waterloo, Hawkeye Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Des Moines Area 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 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. 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. Set against $14,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at University Of Northern Iowa, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $75,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.