2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
[Manufacturing Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/manufacturing-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.
College Factual analyzed 146 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools.
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Finding the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology School for You
The manufacturing engineering technology program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
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2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in manufacturing engineering technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
Our analysis ranked Macomb Community College the best value for a degree in manufacturing engineering technology in the United States. Located in the city of Warren, Macomb Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $8,370. Students borrow a median of $9,862 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $38,758 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Joliet Junior College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,995. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lake Land College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $7,769. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Johnston Community College one of the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Located in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $9,490. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,490 median debt.
Ventura College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $20,250. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Ventura College generally make around $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
West Georgia Technical College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,410, while out-of-state students pay about $5,978. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from West Georgia Technical College generally make around $39,922. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Northeast Alabama Community College came in at #7 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, compared with $8,910 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $35,119. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #8 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,517, while out-of-state students pay about $10,044. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $17,730. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $47,975. That is a strong return on a $17,730 median debt.
Florida State College At Jacksonville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,657, while out-of-state students pay about $9,631. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Florida State College At Jacksonville earn a median of $46,748 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lorain County Community College came in at #10 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Lorain County Community College earn a median of $40,095 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College landed the #11 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
Pellissippi State Community College came in at #12 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Knoxville, Pellissippi State Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,786, while out-of-state students pay about $17,770. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Pellissippi State Community College generally make around $42,672. Set against $8,951 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College earned the #13 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Kankakee. Students from in state pay about $5,220 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,289 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $60,509. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuyahoga Community College District came in at #14 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,636 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #15 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Set in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,235. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Patrick Henry Community College earn a median of $33,358 early in their careers. Set against $11,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #16 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $49,287. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Oakton Community College placed #17 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Located in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,462. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, compared with $6,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $12,212. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $32,626. Set against $12,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #19 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Phenix City, Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,970 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,204 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $53,099. That is a strong return on a $13,204 median debt.
John Tyler Community College earned the #20 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of John Tyler Community College earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College earned the #21 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $11,611 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $46,993. That is a strong return on a $11,611 median debt.
Central Arizona College placed #22 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Coolidge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,250, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,635. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Central Arizona College earn a median of $48,826 early in their careers. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,380, compared with $4,550 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas generally make around $45,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Sanford, Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,711, compared with $8,855 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $10,266. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $38,198. Set against $10,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $17,756. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,079 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Chattanooga State Community College generally make around $37,252. Set against $12,079 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s manufacturing engineering technology value ranking:
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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 · 146 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 146 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.
