2026 Best Value Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electronics-engineering-technology/electrical-electronic-and-communications-engineering-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Schools
Leading the list is Crowder College, our #1 best value for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician in the The Plains States Region. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,104, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,887 in student loans. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $33,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bismarck State College earned it the #2 place for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician. Set in the city of Bismarck, Bismarck State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,247, compared with $7,331 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,236 to complete the electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician program here. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Bismarck State College earn a median of $89,460 early in their careers. Set against $14,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kirkwood Community College earned it the #3 place for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician. Located in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,176, compared with $8,220 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician graduates is $15,779. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $60,210 early in their careers. Set against $15,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Hawkeye Community College earned it the #4 place for electrical, electronic & communications engineering 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, while out-of-state students pay about $6,612. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,001 in student loans. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Hawkeye Community College earn a median of $41,902 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,001 median debt.
Hennepin Technical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $16,246 to complete the electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician program here. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $56,073 early in their careers. Set against $16,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Iowa Western Community College came in at #6 for value in electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,080. Typical student debt for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician graduates is $15,153. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates of Iowa Western Community College earn a median of $43,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician schools. Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Linn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $50,931. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Superior College landed the #8 spot for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician value this year. Lake Superior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785. Typical student debt for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician graduates is $17,156. Soon after graduation, electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Lake Superior College generally make around $42,543. That is a strong return on a $17,156 median debt.
South Dakota State University placed #9 among the best values for electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, compared with $12,809 for out-of-state students. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $24,989 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician degree recipients from South Dakota State University generally make around $51,260. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Wichita Technical Institute earned the #10 position for value in electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Technical Institute is a small private for-profit institution. Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Wichita Technical Institute generally make around $38,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hamilton Technical College earned the #11 position for value in electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Davenport, Hamilton Technical College is a small private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,600. Students borrow a median of $26,827 to complete the electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, electrical, electronic & communications engineering technology/technician degree recipients from Hamilton Technical College generally make around $55,931. Set against $26,827 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Narrow Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Schools by State
More Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings
View All Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 32 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.