2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Value](/majors/engineering-technologies/electromechanical-engineering-technology/mechatronics-robotics-and-automation-engineering-technology/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Leading the list is Washtenaw Community College, our #1 best value for value in the Great Lakes Region. Washtenaw Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Value graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lorain County Community College earned it the #2 place for value. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Value graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $40,095. That is a strong return on a $17,611 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Schoolcraft College earned it the #3 place for value. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, while out-of-state students pay about $6,501. Typical student debt for value graduates is $15,677. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Schoolcraft College generally make around $57,104. That is a strong return on a $15,677 median debt.
Macomb Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Typical student debt for value graduates is $9,862. Value graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,862 median debt.
Sinclair Community College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $12,525. Early-career value graduates make about $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
St Clair County Community College came in at #6 for value in value this year. St Clair County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Port Huron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,212, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $16,379 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $45,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #7 spot for value value this year. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #8 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Students borrow a median of $20,820 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #9 for value in value this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. That is a strong return on a $11,384 median debt.
Waukesha County Technical College earned the #10 position for value in value this year. Located in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,803 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,046 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,000. Value graduates of Waukesha County Technical College earn a median of $65,178 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College landed the #11 spot for value value this year. Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Green Bay. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Value graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #12 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $7,457 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $47,684 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross landed the #13 spot for value value this year. Located in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $11,000. Value graduates of Western Technical College La Cross earn a median of $60,488 early in their careers. 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), 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
