2027 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Industrial Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/industrial-technology-technician/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools
Our analysis ranked Cincinnati State Technical And Community College the best value for a degree in industrial technology/technician in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,730 in student loans. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washtenaw Community College earned it the #2 place for industrial technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $15,000. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $45,332. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial technology/technician, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,249 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Cuyahoga Community College District earn a median of $39,394 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Oakton Community College one of the best values for industrial technology/technician. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $48,838. Set against $7,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Sinclair Community College earned it the #5 place for industrial technology/technician. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport landed the #6 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Set in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,360 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,783 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport generally make around $46,384. Set against $13,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #7 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $42,724. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #8 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $10,623 in student loans. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $60,215 early in their careers. Set against $10,623 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Edison State Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,499, while out-of-state students pay about $8,346. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $15,406. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Edison State Community College generally make around $43,481. Set against $15,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $50,314. Set against $9,785 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ferris State University earned the #11 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Ferris State University generally make around $78,820. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ferris State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Columbus State Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #13 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washington State Community College placed #14 among the best values for industrial technology/technician. Washington State Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Marietta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,128, while out-of-state students pay about $4,152. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,291 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $45,305. That is a strong return on a $16,291 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #15 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $11,709. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Northcentral Technical College earn a median of $41,696 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Owens Community College landed the #16 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Set in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,870 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,502. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $19,383. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Owens Community College earn a median of $45,785 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana State University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $78,215 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #18 among the best values for industrial technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,040, with out-of-state students paying around $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $44,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Vincennes University earned the #19 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,126 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $16,114. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $50,549. Set against $16,114 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Heartland Community College earned the #20 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $13,110. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. That is a strong return on a $13,266 median debt.
Clark State Community College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,393, with out-of-state students paying around $8,049. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $20,740. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $39,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #22 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $23,000. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $54,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #23 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $73,283. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #24 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $21,345. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $68,582. Set against $21,345 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #25 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $60,741. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Rest of the Top 27 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s industrial technology/technician value ranking:
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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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 27 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.
