2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in Kentucky

[Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering technologies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering technologies students.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in Kentucky
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering technologies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools
Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College earned the #1 spot for value among engineering technologies schools in Kentucky. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $8,396 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Southcentral Kentucky Community And Technical College generally make around $60,381. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hazard Community And Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Hazard, Hazard Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Students borrow a median of $12,212 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $32,626. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Somerset Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Somerset, Somerset Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,722 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Somerset Community College earn a median of $35,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,722 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Big Sandy Community And Technical College earned it the #4 place for engineering technologies. Big Sandy Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Prestonsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $11,588 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Big Sandy Community And Technical College earn a median of $31,217 early in their careers. Set against $11,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Henderson Community College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the rural area of Henderson, Henderson Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,528 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Henderson Community College generally make around $40,259. Set against $13,528 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elizabethtown Community And Technical College placed #6 among the best values for engineering technologies. Elizabethtown Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Elizabethtown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $12,245. Engineering Technologies graduates of Elizabethtown Community And Technical College earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,245 median debt.
Madisonville Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Madisonville, Madisonville Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $5,438 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $53,689. Set against $5,438 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Maysville Community And Technical College placed #8 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the rural area of Maysville, Maysville Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Students borrow a median of $13,031 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Maysville Community And Technical College earn a median of $37,769 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ashland Community And Technical College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the city of Ashland, Ashland Community And Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Ashland Community And Technical College generally make around $39,575. Set against $13,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Gateway Community And Technical College placed #10 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Florence, Gateway Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,611 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $46,993. That is a strong return on a $11,611 median debt.
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #11 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Paducah, West Kentucky Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $10,778. Engineering Technologies graduates of West Kentucky Community And Technical College earn a median of $31,903 early in their careers. Set against $10,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owensboro Community And Technical College earned the #12 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the rural area of Owensboro, Owensboro Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, while out-of-state students pay about $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $9,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Owensboro Community And Technical College generally make around $40,462. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bluegrass Community And Technical College placed #13 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the city of Lexington, Bluegrass Community And Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,808, compared with $6,512 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Bluegrass Community And Technical College earn a median of $69,924 early in their careers. Set against $7,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hopkinsville Community College placed #14 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the town of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,728, with out-of-state students paying around $6,432. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $13,269 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $43,678. Set against $13,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Jefferson Community And Technical College earned the #15 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Louisville, Jefferson Community And Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,808 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,512. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $11,345. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Jefferson Community And Technical College generally make around $71,070. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Berea College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Berea, Berea College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,658. Students borrow a median of $5,801 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Berea College earn a median of $31,428 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,801 median debt. Roughly 19% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Kentucky University placed #17 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the suburb of Highland Heights, Northern Kentucky University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,088, with out-of-state students paying around $21,912. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $25,466 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $67,641. Set against $25,466 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Murray State University earned the #18 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $25,108 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $72,966. That is a strong return on a $25,108 median debt. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Morehead State University earned the #19 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. Students from in state pay about $10,024 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,980. Students borrow a median of $23,743 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $58,621. Set against $23,743 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University placed #20 among the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,652, while out-of-state students pay about $27,000. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $60,675. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Kentucky University admits about 94% of applicants.
Eastern Kentucky University placed #21 among the best values for engineering technologies. Eastern Kentucky University is a large public school located in the town of Richmond. In-state tuition and fees average $10,320, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Students borrow a median of $34,786 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $71,299. Set against $34,786 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville came in at #22 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $21,910 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $111,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Kentucky placed #23 among the best values for engineering technologies. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Students borrow a median of $24,094 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of University Of Kentucky earn a median of $49,568 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
More Engineering Technologies Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.