by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for transportation & materials moving students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in transportation & materials moving, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in transportation & materials moving, no school beat Dodge City Community College this year. Dodge City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Dodge City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,650, while out-of-state students pay about $5,850. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $45,427.
Salina Area Technical College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in transportation & materials moving, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Salina, Salina Area Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,128. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $17,124 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $38,440. Set against $17,124 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Coffeyville Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Coffeyville Community College is a small public school located in the town of Coffeyville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,600, with out-of-state students paying around $4,680. Students borrow a median of $12,838 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Coffeyville Community College generally make around $45,342. Set against $12,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Seward County Community College And Area Technical School one of the best values for transportation & materials moving. Set in the town of Liberal, Seward County Community College And Area Technical School is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, with out-of-state students paying around $5,408. Students borrow a median of $9,175 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $53,375. That is a strong return on a $9,175 median debt.
Hutchinson Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in transportation & materials moving, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Hutchinson, Hutchinson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,540, with out-of-state students paying around $4,770. Students borrow a median of $18,148 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Hutchinson Community College generally make around $42,285. That is a strong return on a $18,148 median debt.
Colby Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Located in the town of Colby, Colby Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, 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. That is a strong return on a $14,796 median debt.
Wichita Area Technical College landed the #7 spot for transportation & materials moving value this year. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,237 in tuition and fees. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $11,828 in student loans. Soon after graduation, transportation & materials moving degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $35,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pratt Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Set in the town of Pratt, Pratt Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, while out-of-state students pay about $4,936. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $10,327. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Pratt Community College earn a median of $61,703 early in their careers. Set against $10,327 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Barton County Community College came in at #9 for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Located in the rural area of Great Bend, Barton County Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,680, with out-of-state students paying around $4,960. Typical student debt for transportation & materials moving graduates is $14,792. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Barton County Community College earn a median of $44,536 early in their careers. Set against $14,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cloud County Community College placed #10 among the best values for transportation & materials moving. Cloud County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Concordia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,540, compared with $4,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,839 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Cloud County Community College earn a median of $53,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,839 median debt.
North Central Kansas Technical College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Set in the rural area of Beloit, North Central Kansas Technical College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,350. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,928.
Johnson County Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value transportation & materials moving schools. Set in the city of Overland Park, Johnson County Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, compared with $5,688 for out-of-state students. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates carry a median of $5,775 in student loans. Early-career transportation & materials moving graduates make about $74,114. Set against $5,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kansas State University earned the #13 position for value in transportation & materials moving this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the transportation & materials moving program here. Transportation & Materials Moving graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $51,198 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
This ranking is produced 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.