2027 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in Minnesota

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 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 Minnesota
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
South Central College earned the #1 spot for value among automation engineer technology/technician schools in Minnesota. Located in the suburb of North Mankato, South Central College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,146 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $8,450 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $56,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes St Cloud Technical And Community College one of the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, St Cloud Technical And Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,124. Students borrow a median of $17,148 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of St Cloud Technical And Community College earn a median of $63,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,148 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,465 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $71,199. Set against $16,465 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Ridgewater College, which ranked #4. Ridgewater College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Willmar. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,121. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $17,196. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $58,968. That is a strong return on a $17,196 median debt.
Minnesota West Community And Technical 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 Granite Falls, Minnesota West Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,491. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,946 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $43,009. That is a strong return on a $13,946 median debt.
Pine Technical College earned the #6 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,738. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $22,454. 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.
Alexandria Technical And Community College ranked #7 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. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $55,372. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Lakes College Brainerd ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,249. Students borrow a median of $14,479 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $60,937. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 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.