2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Manufacturing Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/manufacturing-engineering-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools.
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2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the The Plains States 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
Hutchinson Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,770 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $18,148 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $42,285. Set against $18,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washburn Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,880 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,362. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at State Fair Community College, which ranked #3. State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Sedalia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $15,328. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from State Fair Community College generally make around $39,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita Area Technical College earned it the #4 place for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $6,887 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $24,913. Set against $6,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Crowder College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,104 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,784 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,887 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $36,148. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College landed the #6 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,940. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $17,887. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $52,059. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Missouri State University West Plains ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the town of West Plains, Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,106. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,250 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $42,523. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
North Dakota State College Of Science came in at #8 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,974, with out-of-state students paying around $6,973. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $18,609. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of North Dakota State College Of Science earn a median of $59,489 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Normandale Community College landed the #9 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,329. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $20,162. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Normandale Community College generally make around $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pine Technical College placed #10 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,738. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $22,454 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of $32,063 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mitchell Technical Institute ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public school located in the town of Mitchell. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Mitchell Technical Institute generally make around $47,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Cloud State University landed the #12 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $16,084. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $69,616. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Linn State Technical College came in at #13 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Linn. Students from in state pay about $8,160 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,042 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $45,538. That is a strong return on a $11,042 median debt.
Pittsburg State University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $22,250. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $64,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #15 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $23,213 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $69,122. Set against $23,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Kansas State University came in at #16 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $23,546. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,543 early in their careers. Set against $23,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
