2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in Virginia
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
Leading the list is Patrick Henry Community College, our #1 best value for manufacturing engineering technology in Virginia. Located in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, while out-of-state students pay about $11,440. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,235. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Patrick Henry Community College generally make around $33,358. Set against $11,235 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Virginia Community College earned it the #2 place for manufacturing engineering technology. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $10,384 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $32,309. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Virginia Highlands Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,022, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $7,490. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Virginia Highlands Community College generally make around $33,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Western Community College earned it the #5 place for manufacturing engineering technology. Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Roanoke. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $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.
New River Community College earned the #6 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. New River Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Dublin. In-state tuition and fees average $4,979, while out-of-state students pay about $11,417. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,132 in student loans. 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.
Southside Virginia Community College placed #7 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $7,467 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Southside Virginia Community College earn a median of $29,666 early in their careers. Set against $7,467 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas Nelson Community College earned the #8 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hampton. Students from in state pay about $5,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $36,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Community College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Danville Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Danville. In-state tuition and fees average $4,992, with out-of-state students paying around $11,430. Students borrow a median of $9,494 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Danville Community College earn a median of $55,860 early in their careers. Set against $9,494 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mountain Empire Community College came in at #10 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Big Stone Gap. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,036 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $36,988. That is a strong return on a $9,036 median debt.
Tidewater Community College earned the #11 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave placed #12 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,768 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $40,020. Set against $11,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwest Virginia Community College came in at #13 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,075, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Southwest Virginia Community College generally make around $32,277. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[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.
