2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in Iowa
[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.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools.
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2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in Iowa
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 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. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Set against $11,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,525, with out-of-state students paying around $6,612. Students borrow a median of $17,001 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $41,902. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Des Moines Area Community College, which ranked #3. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $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. 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 Southeastern Community College West Burlington, which ranked #4. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,420, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $16,126. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $45,760. Set against $16,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from University Of Northern Iowa generally make around $75,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
