2027 Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heavy-industrial-equipment-maintenance/industrial-mechanics-and-maintenance-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology students.
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2027 Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools
For return on investment in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology, no school beat Metropolitan Community College Area this year. Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public school located in the city of Omaha. Students from in state pay about $3,375 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Students borrow a median of $12,799 to complete the industrial mechanics & maintenance technology program here. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Metropolitan Community College Area generally make around $45,583. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Central Community College one of the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, with out-of-state students paying around $4,800. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $43,218. That is a strong return on a $10,277 median debt.
Riverland Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology, landing the #3 spot this year. Riverland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Austin. Students from in state pay about $6,297 in tuition and fees. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $49,194. 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 industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,237. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Wichita Area Technical College earn a median of $35,358 early in their careers. Set against $11,828 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozarks Technical Community College earned it the #5 place for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $15,866. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $36,644 early in their careers. Set against $15,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #6 for value in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology this year. Set in the city of Cedar Rapids, Kirkwood Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $15,779 in student loans. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Kirkwood Community College earn a median of $41,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $11,362. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Washburn Institute Of Technology earn a median of $39,749 early in their careers. Set against $11,362 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hennepin Technical College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial mechanics & maintenance technology schools. Located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park, Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $17,887 in student loans. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #9 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the industrial mechanics & maintenance technology program here. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $40,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value industrial mechanics & maintenance technology schools. Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Ankeny. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $14,956 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Des Moines Area Community College generally make around $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #11 spot for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology value this year. Located in the town of West Burlington, Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,420, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $45,760. That is a strong return on a $16,126 median debt.
Ranken Technical College placed #12 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Ranken Technical College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,008. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $13,050. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $61,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.