2026 Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools in Illinois
[Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/agricultural-mechanization/agricultural-mechanics-and-equipment-machine-technology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology students.
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2026 Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Schools
Lake Land College tops our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools in Illinois. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,415, with out-of-state students paying around $14,301. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates is $7,769. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology degree recipients from Lake Land College generally make around $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Spoon River College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools. Set in the rural area of Canton, Spoon River College is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,500. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $38,386.
Rend Lake College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology schools. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,500, compared with $7,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates is $8,688. Soon after graduation, agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology degree recipients from Rend Lake College generally make around $42,770. That is a strong return on a $8,688 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Central College earned it the #4 place for agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, 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. Early-career agricultural mechanics & equipment/machine technology graduates make about $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
More Agricultural Mechanics & Equipment/Machine Technology Rankings
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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 · 5 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.
