2026 Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Plumbing & Water Supply](/majors/construction-trades/plumbing-and-water-supply/) 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 31 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for plumbing & water supply students.
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2026 Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the plumbing & water supply degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Plumbing & Water Supply Schools
Leading the list is Washtenaw Community College, our #1 best value for plumbing & water supply in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Typical student debt for plumbing & water supply graduates is $17,616. Soon after graduation, plumbing & water supply degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College earned it the #2 place for plumbing & water supply. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $6,726 in student loans. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $82,055. That is a strong return on a $6,726 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuyahoga Community College District earned it the #3 place for plumbing & water supply. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, while out-of-state students pay about $7,249. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the plumbing & water supply program here. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $39,394. Set against $14,636 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plumbing & water supply, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $7,427 in student loans. Soon after graduation, plumbing & water supply degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $82,191. Set against $7,427 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Columbus State Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in plumbing & water supply, landing the #5 spot this year. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,041 to complete the plumbing & water supply program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College came in at #6 for value in plumbing & water supply 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, while out-of-state students pay about $7,169. Typical student debt for plumbing & water supply graduates is $11,384. Soon after graduation, plumbing & water supply degree recipients from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College generally make around $35,981. Set against $11,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College came in at #7 for value in plumbing & water supply this year. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $46,398. That is a strong return on a $16,595 median debt.
Milwaukee Area Technical College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value plumbing & water supply schools. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,184, while out-of-state students pay about $7,427. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $38,325. That is a strong return on a $18,296 median debt.
Mid State Technical College earned the #9 position for value in plumbing & water supply this year. Located in the town of Wisconsin Rapids, Mid State Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, while out-of-state students pay about $7,171. Plumbing & Water Supply graduates carry a median of $11,626 in student loans. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $41,678. That is a strong return on a $11,626 median debt.
Fox Valley Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value plumbing & water supply schools. Set in the suburb of Appleton, Fox Valley Technical College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Students borrow a median of $13,319 to complete the plumbing & water supply program here. Early-career plumbing & water supply graduates make about $79,589. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
