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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region

2 Colleges in the United States
$16,331 Avg Student Debt
$38,861 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Badge [Automation Engineer Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/electromechanical-engineering-technology/automation-engineer-technology-technician/) 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for automation engineer technology/technician students.

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2026 Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools in the Southeast Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in automation engineer technology/technician, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Automation Engineer Technology/Technician Schools

1

Georgia Northwestern Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools in the Southeast Region. Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rome. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,300, compared with $5,868 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,492 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $41,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Cleveland Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Cleveland Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Shelby. In-state tuition and fees average $2,602, while out-of-state students pay about $8,746. Students borrow a median of $7,131 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Cleveland Community College generally make around $39,891. Set against $7,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

3

Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Pensacola State College, which ranked #3. Pensacola State College is a large public school located in the city of Pensacola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,361, compared with $9,463 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,191 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Pensacola State College generally make around $45,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Students looking for strong value in automation engineer technology/technician will find it at Seminole State College Of Florida, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Sanford, Seminole State College Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,122 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,447. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $18,419 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Seminole State College Of Florida generally make around $48,049. That is a strong return on a $18,419 median debt.

5

Hillsborough Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in automation engineer technology/technician, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Tampa, Hillsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,491, while out-of-state students pay about $9,088. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $16,142 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Hillsborough Community College generally make around $44,101. That is a strong return on a $16,142 median debt.

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Chattanooga State Community College came in at #6 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the city of Chattanooga, Chattanooga State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,772, while out-of-state students pay about $17,756. Students borrow a median of $12,079 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Chattanooga State Community College earn a median of $37,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,079 median debt.

7

Spartanburg Community College earned the #7 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the suburb of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,071, compared with $10,135 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $9,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, automation engineer technology/technician degree recipients from Spartanburg Community College generally make around $65,388. Set against $9,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

8

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College placed #8 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the rural area of Perkinston, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,250, with out-of-state students paying around $7,850. Students borrow a median of $11,653 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College earn a median of $34,214 early in their careers. Set against $11,653 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

9

Manatee Technical College placed #9 among the best values for automation engineer technology/technician. Located in the suburb of Bradenton, Manatee Technical College is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $9,726 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Manatee Technical College earn a median of $38,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Piedmont Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Located in the town of Greenwood, Piedmont Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,775, compared with $6,923 for out-of-state students. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $53,518. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.

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Louisiana Tech University earned the #11 position for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,125 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,846 to complete the automation engineer technology/technician program here. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates of Louisiana Tech University earn a median of $49,261 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.

12
Ecpi University crest
Ecpi University
Virginia Beach, VA

Ecpi University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value automation engineer technology/technician schools. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Automation Engineer Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $37,952 in student loans. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $64,359. That is a strong return on a $37,952 median debt. Ecpi University admits about 74% of applicants.

13

Keiser University Ft Lauderdale came in at #13 for value in automation engineer technology/technician this year. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Lauderdale. Students from in state pay about $25,056 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for automation engineer technology/technician graduates is $36,416. Early-career automation engineer technology/technician graduates make about $45,965. Set against $36,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 33 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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