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2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

14 Ranked Colleges
2,863 Degrees Awarded
$10,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Engineering Technologies is the 19th most popular major in the country with 86,730 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, engineering technologies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $46,894 and had an average of $21,178 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 2,863 engineering technologies graduates with average earnings and debt of $52,000 and $25,395 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering technologies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great engineering technologies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the engineering technologies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for Engineering Technologies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 186 ’s engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern University is $1,866 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Northwestern University Engineering Technologies Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school awarded 97 degrees to qualified ’s engineering tech students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $5,477 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UIUC Engineering Technologies Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lewis and Clark Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Godfrey, Illinois, this small public school handed out 92 degrees to qualified ’s engineering tech students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lewis and Clark Community College has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lewis and Clark Community College is $2,719 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Lewis and Clark Community College Engineering Technologies Report

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Illinois University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 118 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $15,281 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at NIU

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 253 ’s engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $13,658 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Engineering Technologies Report

#6

Lake Land College

Mattoon, Illinois

Lake Land College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Mattoon, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering tech degrees to 127 students in 2019-2020.

Lake Land College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Land College is $2,857 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at Lake Land College

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s engineering tech degrees to 171 students in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $12,350 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Engineering Technologies at EIU

#8

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

With a ranking of #8, Illinois State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 126 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois State is $14,470 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Engineering Technologies Report

#9

Lincoln Trail College

Robinson, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Lincoln Trail College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lincoln Trail College is located in Robinson, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 38 ’s engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

Lincoln Trail College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $4,986 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lincoln Trail College.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at Lincoln Trail College

#10

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 35 ’s engineering tech degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k list, WIU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $13,942 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at Western Illinois University

#11

Rend Lake College

Ina, Illinois

Rend Lake College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Rend Lake College is located in Ina, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 31 ’s engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

Rend Lake College also took the #13 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rend Lake College is $4,905 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at Rend Lake College

Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Tech is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 73 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Tech, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $17,222 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois Tech.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Illinois Institute of Technology Engineering Technologies Report

#13

DeVry University - Illinois

Chicago, Illinois

DeVry University - Illinois ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. DeVry University - Illinois is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 161 ’s engineering tech degrees to qualified students.

DeVry University - Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend DeVry University - Illinois is $28,189 for illinois engineering tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full DeVry University - Illinois Engineering Technologies Report

#14

Morrison Institute of Technology

Morrison, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, Morrison Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Tech Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Morrison Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Morrison, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 36 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Morrison Institute of Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Engineering Technologies Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Morrison Institute of Technology is $13,907 for Illinois Engineering Tech students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Engineering Technologies at Morrison Institute of Technology

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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