2027 Best Value Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois

[Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/vehicle-maintenance-repair-tech/diesel-mechanics-technology-technician/) 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 16 schools to find the best return on investment for diesel mechanics technology/technician students.
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2027 Best Value Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in diesel mechanics technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician Schools
For return on investment in diesel mechanics technology/technician, no school beat Joliet Junior College this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,530 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Joliet Junior College generally make around $40,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in diesel mechanics technology/technician will find it at Lewis And Clark Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,340, compared with $7,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,602. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in diesel mechanics technology/technician will find it at Richland Community College, which ranked #3. Richland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Decatur. In-state tuition and fees average $4,680, with out-of-state students paying around $17,070. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $46,233. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Triton College earned it the #4 place for diesel mechanics technology/technician. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,070, with out-of-state students paying around $15,330. Students borrow a median of $12,994 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Set against $12,994 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in diesel mechanics technology/technician will find it at Lincoln Land Community College, which ranked #5. Lincoln Land Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,744, while out-of-state students pay about $10,464. Typical student debt for diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates is $9,500. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Lincoln Land Community College generally make around $48,308. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kishwaukee College landed the #6 spot for diesel mechanics technology/technician value this year. Kishwaukee College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Malta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, while out-of-state students pay about $13,680. Students borrow a median of $10,328 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Early-career diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $30,398. Set against $10,328 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kankakee Community College came in at #7 for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, with out-of-state students paying around $25,830. Students borrow a median of $13,289 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Kankakee Community College earn a median of $60,509 early in their careers. Set against $13,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Prairie State College came in at #8 for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Prairie State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Chicago Heights. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, with out-of-state students paying around $11,064. Students borrow a median of $15,663 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Prairie State College generally make around $37,500. Set against $15,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kaskaskia College placed #9 among the best values for diesel mechanics technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,570. Typical student debt for diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,875. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Kaskaskia College generally make around $45,658. That is a strong return on a $7,875 median debt.
Parkland College placed #10 among the best values for diesel mechanics technology/technician. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Typical student debt for diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates is $7,000. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $51,093 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,000 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College earned the #11 position for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Olive Harvey College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $8,478 in student loans. Early-career diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $25,842. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rend Lake College earned the #12 position for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, with out-of-state students paying around $7,800. Typical student debt for diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates is $8,688. Early-career diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $42,770. Set against $8,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College landed the #13 spot for diesel mechanics technology/technician value this year. Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College is a large public school located in the town of Olney. Students from in state pay about $5,260 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,460. Students borrow a median of $9,434 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Olney Central College generally make around $38,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southeastern Illinois College came in at #14 for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Located in the rural area of Harrisburg, Southeastern Illinois College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,780. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $33,763.
Illinois Central College came in at #15 for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Illinois Central College is a large public school located in the suburb of East Peoria. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Diesel Mechanics Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans. Early-career diesel mechanics technology/technician graduates make about $58,122. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Universal Technical Institute Of Illinois Inc earned the #16 position for value in diesel mechanics technology/technician this year. Universal Technical Institute Of Illinois Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Students borrow a median of $14,243 to complete the diesel mechanics technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, diesel mechanics technology/technician degree recipients from Universal Technical Institute Of Illinois Inc generally make around $41,147. Set against $14,243 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.