2026 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in California
[Industrial Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/industrial-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools
California State University Los Angeles earned the #1 spot for value among industrial technology/technician schools in California. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $15,883 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $45,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
California State University Fresno came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $10,518. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $42,807. Set against $10,518 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Fresno admits about 95% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,161 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $78,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
More Industrial Technology/Technician Rankings
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
