2027 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in the Southwest Region

[Industrial Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/industrial-technology-technician/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 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 Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools
Pima Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tucson, Pima Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,442, with out-of-state students paying around $7,758. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $10,655. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $40,977. That is a strong return on a $10,655 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes San Juan College one of the best values for industrial technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Farmington, San Juan College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $41,697. Set against $16,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Central Texas College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Gainesville, North Central Texas College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,600, compared with $5,739 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $15,965 in student loans. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of North Central Texas College earn a median of $43,536 early in their careers. Set against $15,965 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona Western College earned it the #4 place for industrial technology/technician. Set in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $44,895.
Lamar University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $37,672. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Lamar University generally make around $84,746. Set against $37,672 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Lone Star College System landed the #6 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Located in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $10,425 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $40,085. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas A And M University Kingsville came in at #7 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Students borrow a median of $23,347 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $50,039. That is a strong return on a $23,347 median debt. Texas A And M University Kingsville admits about 91% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #8 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Odessa. In-state tuition and fees average $9,607, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $20,052. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $60,503. Set against $20,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #9 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $20,959 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $55,134. Set against $20,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.
Texas State Technical College came in at #10 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $12,667. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $59,277. That is a strong return on a $12,667 median debt.
Tarleton State University earned the #11 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Tarleton State University is a large public school located in the town of Stephenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $55,036. Set against $25,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.