ADBLOCK #102
College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1 Colleges in the United States
$12,747 Avg Student Debt
$40,290 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Badge [Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/) 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.

College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools.

What’s on this page:

ADBLOCK #159
DEBUG: Raw major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Initial offers_url = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json", major_slug = ""
DEBUG: After cleaning major_slug = ""
DEBUG: Before URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After TrimSuffix = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After HTTPS placeholder = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After slash cleaning = "HTTPS_TEMP_PLACEHOLDERwww.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: After URL cleaning = "https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json"
DEBUG: offers_url = https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/offers.json
DEBUG: major_slug = ""
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: offers_data.offers found, count = 1
DEBUG: Specific major detected (cip4 = 01.02), keeping min_relevance at 0.8
DEBUG: Starting relevance filtering - min_relevance = 0.8, max_relevance = 1
DEBUG: Checking offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Automotive & Engine Repair)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "Trade & Vocational Programs (Automotive & Engine Repair)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
DEBUG: relevant_offers count = 0
DEBUG: No relevant offers, showing generic ESYOH widget

2026 Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools in the Great Lakes Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools

1
Lake Land College crest
Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Lake Land College earned the #1 spot for value among agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools in the Great Lakes Region. Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Mattoon. In-state tuition and fees average $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/machine Technology graduates carry a median of $7,769 in student loans. Early-career agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates make about $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2
Ivy Tech Community College crest
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN

Ivy Tech Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates is $11,889. Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/machine Technology graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,889 median debt.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Spoon River College earned it the #3 place for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology. Set in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,090, while out-of-state students pay about $13,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,386 ten years after entry.

4

A rank of #4 makes Rend Lake College one of the best values for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. In-state tuition and fees average $4,500, with out-of-state students paying around $7,800. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates is $8,688. Early-career agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates make about $42,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College earned it the #5 place for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology. Located in the rural area of Fennimore, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,904, while out-of-state students pay about $7,147. Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/machine Technology graduates carry a median of $12,112 in student loans. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology degree recipients from Southwest Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $44,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

ADBLOCK #101
6
Illinois Central College crest
Illinois Central College
East Peoria, IL

Illinois Central College placed #6 among the best values for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Students borrow a median of $12,222 to complete the agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology program here. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

7

University Of Northwestern Ohio landed the #7 spot for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology value this year. University Of Northwestern Ohio is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lima. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,366. Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/machine Technology graduates carry a median of $23,805 in student loans. Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/machine Technology graduates of University Of Northwestern Ohio earn a median of $44,784 early in their careers. Set against $23,805 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

Narrow Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools by State

ADBLOCK #173
View All Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Rankings >

ADBLOCK #115

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 · 15 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

ADBLOCK #116

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs
ADBLOCK #613

Compare Your School Options