2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Manufacturing Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/manufacturing-engineering-technology/) 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 46 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for manufacturing engineering technology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the Southeast Region
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
For return on investment in manufacturing engineering technology, no school beat Johnston Community College this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,756, with out-of-state students paying around $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes West Georgia Technical College one of the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Waco, West Georgia Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,978 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of West Georgia Technical College earn a median of $39,922 early in their careers. Set against $12,651 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Alabama Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Rainsville, Northeast Alabama Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,910. Students borrow a median of $7,459 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Northeast Alabama Community College earn a median of $35,119 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at Copiah Lincoln Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Wesson, Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, while out-of-state students pay about $5,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
Florida State College At Jacksonville is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Jacksonville, Florida State College At Jacksonville is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,657 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,631. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $19,139 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $46,748. Set against $19,139 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Patrick Henry Community College came in at #6 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,002, with out-of-state students paying around $11,440. 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.
Hazard Community And Technical College placed #7 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,728 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $12,212. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $32,626. That is a strong return on a $12,212 median debt.
Pellissippi State Community College landed the #8 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Pellissippi State Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,786, with out-of-state students paying around $17,770. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,951 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Pellissippi State Community College earn a median of $42,672 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,951 median debt.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $49,287 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College came in at #10 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. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $8,970. Students borrow a median of $13,204 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $53,099. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas landed the #11 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the town of Helena, Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,380, compared with $4,550 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Phillips Community College Of The University Of Arkansas earn a median of $45,190 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chattanooga State Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $12,079. 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.
Arkansas Northeastern College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the town of Blytheville, Arkansas Northeastern College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,570, compared with $4,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,944 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Arkansas Northeastern College earn a median of $97,406 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College placed #14 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Carolina Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Central Carolina Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sanford. Students from in state pay about $2,711 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,855. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $10,266. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Central Carolina Community College generally make around $38,198. That is a strong return on a $10,266 median debt.
Southside Virginia Community College landed the #16 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,007 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $7,467. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Southside Virginia Community College earn a median of $29,666 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gateway Community And Technical College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Florence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,611. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $46,993. Set against $11,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College landed the #18 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,098, compared with $4,363 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $8,625 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Central Louisiana Technical Community College earn a median of $18,707 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,625 median debt.
York Technical College landed the #19 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Rock Hill, York Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,036 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,340. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $10,907. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $37,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #20 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,075 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $32,277. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pearl River Community College placed #21 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Located in the rural area of Poplarville, Pearl River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,700, compared with $6,100 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,000. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $44,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New River Community College ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. New River Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Dublin. Students from in state pay about $4,979 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,417. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $13,132. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of New River Community College earn a median of $46,892 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,132 median debt.
J F Drake State Community And Technical College earned the #23 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Huntsville, J F Drake State Community And Technical College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,190 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,060. Median earnings reach $28,281 ten years out.
Danville Community College earned the #24 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, while out-of-state students pay about $11,430. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $9,494. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Danville Community College generally make around $55,860. That is a strong return on a $9,494 median debt.
Central Virginia Community College placed #25 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,157, compared with $11,595 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $10,384. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $32,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 46 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s manufacturing engineering technology value ranking:
Narrow Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools by State
More Manufacturing Engineering Technology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 46 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 46 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.
