2026 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Transportation & Materials Moving](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 55 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for transportation & materials moving students.
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2026 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in transportation & materials moving, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools
Hutchinson Community College earned the #1 spot for value among transportation & materials moving schools in the The Plains States Region. Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Hutchinson. Students from in state pay about $3,540 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,770. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $18,148. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Hutchinson Community College earn a median of $42,285 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in transportation & materials moving will find it at Central Community College, which ranked #2. Central Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Grand Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,360, while out-of-state students pay about $4,800. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $10,277 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $43,218. Set against $10,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Crowder College earned it the #3 place for transportation & materials moving. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,104, while out-of-state students pay about $5,784. Students borrow a median of $8,400 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $40,759 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,400 median debt.
Seward County Community College And Area Technical School came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Liberal. In-state tuition and fees average $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $9,175. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Seward County Community College And Area Technical School earn a median of $53,375 early in their careers. Set against $9,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in transportation & materials moving will find it at Dodge City Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Dodge City, Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, compared with $5,850 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,427.
Salina Area Technical College came in at #6 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,128. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $17,124. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Salina Area Technical College earn a median of $38,440 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,124 median debt.
Coffeyville Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Located in the town of Coffeyville, Coffeyville Community College is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, compared with $4,680 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $12,838. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $45,342. Set against $12,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Riverland Community College came in at #8 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,297. Students borrow a median of $4,750 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $45,619. Set against $4,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Turtle Mountain Community College landed the #9 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the rural area of Belcourt, Turtle Mountain Community College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,794. Graduates go on to earn a median of $32,079 ten years after entry.
Colby Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Set in the town of Colby, Colby Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,140 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,830 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $14,796. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $40,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
United Tribes Technical College placed #11 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. United Tribes Technical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $5,232. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $25,292.
Ozarks Technical Community College landed the #12 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $7,040. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving 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.
Western Iowa Tech Community College came in at #13 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the city of Sioux City, Western Iowa Tech Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,186, while out-of-state students pay about $5,330. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $11,886 in student loans. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Western Iowa Tech Community College earn a median of $35,742 early in their careers. Set against $11,886 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southeast Community College Area landed the #14 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, Southeast Community College Area is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,444, while out-of-state students pay about $4,032. Students borrow a median of $8,196 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Southeast Community College Area earn a median of $30,980 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest Iowa Community College earned the #15 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Northwest Iowa Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Sheldon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350, compared with $7,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,271 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $60,943. That is a strong return on a $12,271 median debt.
Cloud County Community College earned the #16 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Concordia. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,500. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $12,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Cloud County Community College generally make around $53,004. That is a strong return on a $12,839 median debt.
Northwest Kansas Technical College placed #17 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Set in the town of Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Northwest Kansas Technical College earn a median of $41,638 early in their careers.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha landed the #18 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public school located in the city of Omaha. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,206 for out-of-state students. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $42,837. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Cankdeska Cikana Community College came in at #19 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Set in the rural area of Fort Totten, Cankdeska Cikana Community College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,950 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $17,008 ten years out.
Central Lakes College Brainerd earned the #20 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the town of Brainerd, Central Lakes College Brainerd is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,249 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $10,846. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $64,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Johnson County Community College placed #21 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Located in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $5,688. Students borrow a median of $5,775 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Johnson County Community College generally make around $74,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Linn State Technical College landed the #22 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the rural area of Linn, Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,610. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $8,750. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Linn State Technical College generally make around $50,941. Set against $8,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Alexandria Technical And Community College earned the #23 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Alexandria Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alexandria. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,236. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $14,054 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $48,587. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Area Technical Institute placed #24 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Set in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,718. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $43,424. That is a strong return on a $13,674 median debt.
University Of Central Missouri earned the #25 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, while out-of-state students pay about $18,600. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $58,753. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Rest of the Top 35 Best Value Transportation & Materials Moving Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in transportation & materials moving:
Narrow Transportation & Materials Moving Schools by State
More Transportation & Materials Moving Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 55 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
