2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Master’s Degree Schools
[Manufacturing Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/manufacturing-engineering-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 388 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools.
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2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the manufacturing engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
Western Illinois University earned the #1 spot for value among manufacturing engineering technology schools in the United States. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $47,926. That is a strong return on a $27,639 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes North Carolina A And T State University one of the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $30,272 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $44,378 early in their careers. Set against $30,272 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $73,283 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Pittsburg State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Pittsburg State University generally make around $64,703. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus, which ranked #5. Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hato Rey. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,870. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $23,182. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $29,146. Set against $23,182 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rochester Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,210 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $27,491. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $63,515 early in their careers. Set against $27,491 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Other Manufacturing Engineering Technology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value manufacturing engineering technology schools at other degree levels:
View All Manufacturing Engineering Technology Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 388 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.
