2027 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Transportation & Materials Moving](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 48 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value transportation & materials moving schools.
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2027 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in transportation & materials moving, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools
Illinois Valley Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools in the Great Lakes Region. Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Oglesby. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,385. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Illinois Valley Community College earn a median of $33,224 early in their careers. Set against $8,099 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lincoln Land Community College earned it the #2 place for transportation & materials moving. Set in the rural area of Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,744 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Lincoln Land Community College earn a median of $49,142 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Oakton Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Oakton Community College is a large public school located in the city of Des Plaines. In-state tuition and fees average $3,985, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $7,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Oakton Community College generally make around $48,838. That is a strong return on a $7,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in transportation & materials moving will find it at Spoon River College, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,090, with out-of-state students paying around $13,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,386.
Students looking for strong value in transportation & materials moving will find it at Richland Community College, which ranked #5. 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. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $9,562 in student loans. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Richland Community College earn a median of $46,233 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,562 median debt.
Danville Area Community College landed the #6 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Area Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,440, while out-of-state students pay about $7,440. Students borrow a median of $9,470 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Danville Area Community College generally make around $36,123. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College landed the #7 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $4,008. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $51,945. That is a strong return on a $4,008 median debt.
Highland Community College Freeport earned the #8 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the rural area of Freeport, Highland Community College Freeport is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,936, with out-of-state students paying around $7,360. Students borrow a median of $13,783 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Highland Community College Freeport earn a median of $46,384 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gogebic Community College placed #9 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Set in the town of Ironwood, Gogebic Community College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $7,530. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $15,250. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Gogebic Community College earn a median of $62,642 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt.
Sinclair Community College came in at #10 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $12,525. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.
Shawnee Community College came in at #11 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Shawnee Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ullin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $7,500. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $11,162 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Shawnee Community College generally make around $24,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwestern Michigan College earned the #12 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $17,151. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Northwestern Michigan College generally make around $47,021. That is a strong return on a $17,151 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College came in at #13 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $11,889. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College earned the #14 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, with out-of-state students paying around $7,886. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $17,349. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earned the #15 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,384 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $35,981. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $40,409 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sauk Valley Community College landed the #17 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the rural area of Dixon, Sauk Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,340, with out-of-state students paying around $12,900. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $12,811 in student loans. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Sauk Valley Community College earn a median of $48,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,811 median debt.
Nicolet Area Technical College placed #18 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Set in the rural area of Rhinelander, Nicolet Area Technical College is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,793, with out-of-state students paying around $7,066. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $11,400. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Nicolet Area Technical College generally make around $46,419. That is a strong return on a $11,400 median debt.
Wayne County Community College District earned the #19 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Set against $20,820 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hamrick School ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Located in the rural area of Medina, Hamrick School is a small private for-profit university. Students borrow a median of $6,333 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $47,287. Set against $6,333 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Global earned the #21 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Global is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,101, compared with $14,412 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $36,778 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $54,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College landed the #22 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. Students from in state pay about $5,184 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,427 for out-of-state students. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Northcentral Technical College placed #23 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, while out-of-state students pay about $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ohio Business College Dayton Driving Academy landed the #24 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the suburb of Trotwood, Ohio Business College Dayton Driving Academy is a small private for-profit institution. Median earnings reach $30,389 ten years out.
Rend Lake College earned the #25 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the rural area of Ina, Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,500, while out-of-state students pay about $7,800. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
Rest of the Top 48 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for transportation & materials moving this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 48 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 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.
