2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the Southwest 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong manufacturing engineering technology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for manufacturing engineering technology students.
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2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the Southwest Region
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 Central Arizona College the best value for a degree in manufacturing engineering technology in the Southwest Region. Set in the rural area of Coolidge, Central Arizona College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,250, while out-of-state students pay about $4,500. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,635. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Central Arizona College generally make around $48,826. Set against $11,635 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,160, compared with $5,256 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,734 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Austin Community College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. In-state tuition and fees average $2,550, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $14,519. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $44,895 early in their careers. Set against $14,519 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at Tulsa Community College, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,792 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,720 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Northeast Texas Community College one of the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Mount Pleasant, Northeast Texas Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,980 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,620. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $15,089 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $37,839. Set against $15,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,060, with out-of-state students paying around $9,870. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
Mesa Community College came in at #7 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Mesa Community College generally make around $54,730. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #8 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,512 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,959 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $55,134. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.
Texas State Technical College came in at #9 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,212, while out-of-state students pay about $11,812. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $12,667. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $59,277. Set against $12,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community College Central City earned the #10 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Gateway Community College Central City is a small public institution. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $15,037. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Gateway Community College Central City generally make around $45,781. That is a strong return on a $15,037 median debt.
Tarleton State University came in at #11 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,302, with out-of-state students paying around $18,142. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $55,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #12 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $22,462 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
