2026 Best Value Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Associate’s Degree Schools
[Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/ground-transportation/construction-heavy-equipment-earthmoving-equipment-operation/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 71 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation schools.
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Featured Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2026 Best Value Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Schools
For return on investment in construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, no school beat Hocking College this year. Hocking College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Nelsonville. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,290. Typical student debt for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates is $16,535. Early-career construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates make about $37,713. That is a strong return on a $16,535 median debt.
Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Suny College Of Technology At Alfred is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,892, compared with $16,837 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates is $19,721. Early-career construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates make about $43,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
A rank of #3 makes Lake Area Technical Institute one of the best values for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation. Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Watertown. Students from in state pay about $6,718 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,674 to complete the construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation program here. Construction/heavy Equipment/earthmoving Equipment Operation graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $43,424 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned it the #4 place for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation. Set in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,940, compared with $25,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates is $12,000. Early-career construction/heavy equipment/earthmoving equipment operation graduates make about $45,504. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 71 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
