by our College Data Analytics Team
[Value](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/energy-systems-maintenance-repair-tech/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for value students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Colby Community College earned the #1 spot for value among value schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the town of Colby, Colby Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $5,830. Value graduates carry a median of $14,796 in student loans. Early-career value graduates make about $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cloud County Community College earned it the #2 place for value. Set in the rural area of Concordia, Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,839 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Cloud County Community College generally make around $53,004. Set against $12,839 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The ranking above is published 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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.