2027 Best Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Manufacturing Engineering Technology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 26 schools to find the best for manufacturing engineering technology students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Manufacturing Engineering Technology in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the manufacturing engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Purdue University Main Campus tops our 2027 ranking of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 63 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from Purdue University Main Campus earn around $68,582 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,345 to complete this degree.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Purdue University Main Campus
Northcentral Technical College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, ranking #2. Set in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 30 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Northcentral Technical College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete this degree.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at Northcentral Technical College
Students looking for a strong manufacturing engineering technology program will find one at Fox Valley Technical College, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the suburb of Appleton. Fox Valley Technical College awarded about 37 manufacturing engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Fox Valley Technical College graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at Fox Valley Technical College
Students looking for a strong manufacturing engineering technology program will find one at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College, which ranked #4. This large public university is located in the city of Cincinnati. About 23 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Cincinnati State Technical And Community College in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $47,975 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,730.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Cincinnati State Technical And Community College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering technology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. Southern Illinois University Carbondale graduates 60% of students within six years. About 11 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $73,283 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,000.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
College Of Lake County ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. About 11 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at College Of Lake County in the most recent year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from College Of Lake County earn around $50,314 in the first couple years of their career. College Of Lake County graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at College Of Lake County
Ivy Tech Community College placed #7 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. About 246 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Ivy Tech Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $60,215 in their early career. Ivy Tech Community College graduates carry a median of $10,623 in student loans.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Ivy Tech Community College
Sinclair Community College landed the #8 spot for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Sinclair Community College awarded about 105 manufacturing engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $35,348 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $12,525 to complete this degree.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at Sinclair Community College
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. About 61% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 54 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Platteville in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $67,742. Students borrow a median of $25,125 to complete this degree.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at University Of Wisconsin Platteville
University Of Cincinnati Clermont College landed the #10 spot for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the suburb of Batavia, University Of Cincinnati Clermont College is a large public university. There were roughly 11 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $39,221 in their early career. University Of Cincinnati Clermont College graduates carry a median of $20,017 in student loans.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at University Of Cincinnati Clermont College
Owens Community College placed #11 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. About 10 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Owens Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $45,785 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,383.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Owens Community College
Macomb Community College came in at #12 for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. There were roughly 46 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Macomb Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Macomb Community College generally make around $38,758. Macomb Community College graduates carry a median of $9,862 in student loans.
Read more about the manufacturing engineering technology program at Macomb Community College
Joliet Junior College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 33 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Joliet Junior College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from Joliet Junior College earn around $40,118 in the first couple years of their career. Joliet Junior College graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans.
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Lake Land College placed #14 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. There were roughly 32 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Lake Land College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $30,294 in their early career. Lake Land College graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Lake Land College
Vincennes University earned the #15 position for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. Roughly 3% of students complete a degree within six years here. Vincennes University awarded about 14 manufacturing engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $50,549. Vincennes University graduates carry a median of $16,114 in student loans.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Vincennes University
Oakton Community College earned the #16 position for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. Oakton Community College awarded about 17 manufacturing engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $48,838 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Oakton Community College
Kankakee Community College came in at #17 for manufacturing engineering technology this year. This mid-sized public university is located in the city of Kankakee. About 62 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Kankakee Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the manufacturing engineering technology program make about $60,509 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,289.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Kankakee Community College
Edison State Community College earned the #18 position for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the rural area of Piqua, Edison State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 12 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Edison State Community College in the most recent data year. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Edison State Community College earn a median of $43,481 early in their careers. Edison State Community College graduates carry a median of $15,406 in student loans.
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Terra State Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Fremont. About 34 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Terra State Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Terra State Community College generally make around $63,495. Typical student debt for the program is $24,070.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Terra State Community College
Waubonsee Community College placed #20 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the rural area of Sugar Grove, Waubonsee Community College is a large public institution. About 15 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Waubonsee Community College in the most recent year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from Waubonsee Community College earn around $39,659 in the first couple years of their career. Waubonsee Community College graduates carry a median of $9,939 in student loans.
More information about a degree in manufacturing engineering technology from Waubonsee Community College
Lorain County Community College placed #21 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 43 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Lorain County Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from Lorain County Community College earn around $40,095 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete this degree.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Lorain County Community College
Western Michigan University placed #22 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Kalamazoo. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 17 manufacturing engineering technology students who graduated with this degree at Western Michigan University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from Western Michigan University earn around $63,665 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,875.
Get the full manufacturing engineering technology details for Western Michigan University
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #23 spot for manufacturing engineering technology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public university. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College awarded about 17 manufacturing engineering technology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their manufacturing engineering technology degree from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earn around $33,326 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,500.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College
Highland Community College Freeport ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. This mid-sized public university is located in the rural area of Freeport. About 12 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Highland Community College Freeport in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Highland Community College Freeport generally make around $46,384. Highland Community College Freeport graduates carry a median of $13,783 in student loans.
See the full manufacturing engineering technology program report for Highland Community College Freeport
Clark State Community College placed #25 among the best manufacturing engineering technology schools. Clark State Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. About 26 manufacturing engineering technology degrees were awarded at Clark State Community College in the most recent year. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Clark State Community College earn a median of $39,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,740.
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Rest of the Top 26 Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s manufacturing engineering technology ranking:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 26 schools evaluated.
- 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.
