2026 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in Virginia

[Industrial Technology/Technician](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/industrial-technology-technician/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial technology/technician education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for industrial technology/technician students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial technology/technician degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Technology/Technician Schools
Patrick Henry Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools in Virginia. Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Martinsville. Students from in state pay about $5,002 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,440. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,235 in student loans. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $33,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wytheville Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial technology/technician, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Wytheville, Wytheville Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,007 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,445. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $9,542. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $40,973. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Highlands Community College earned it the #3 place for industrial technology/technician. Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Abingdon. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,022, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460. Students borrow a median of $7,490 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Virginia Highlands Community College earn a median of $33,529 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #4 makes Central Virginia Community College one of the best values for industrial technology/technician. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Central Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. Students borrow a median of $10,384 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Central Virginia Community College generally make around $32,309. That is a strong return on a $10,384 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in industrial technology/technician will find it at John Tyler Community College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
Virginia Western Community College placed #6 among the best values for industrial technology/technician. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $49,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southside Virginia Community College landed the #7 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Alberta. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete the industrial technology/technician program here. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Southside Virginia Community College generally make around $29,666. Set against $7,467 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas Nelson Community College earned the #8 position for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,088 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,526 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $36,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Danville Community College landed the #9 spot for industrial technology/technician value this year. Located in the town of Danville, Danville Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,992, while out-of-state students pay about $11,430. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $9,494. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Danville Community College generally make around $55,860. That is a strong return on a $9,494 median debt.
Mountain Empire Community College placed #10 among the best values for industrial technology/technician. Located in the town of Big Stone Gap, Mountain Empire Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $9,036. Industrial Technology/technician graduates of Mountain Empire Community College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Community College placed #11 among the best values for industrial technology/technician. Tidewater Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $14,001 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $35,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave came in at #12 for value in industrial technology/technician this year. Set in the rural area of Weyers Cave, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $12,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $11,768. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave generally make around $40,020. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Set in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,075, compared with $11,513 for out-of-state students. Industrial Technology/technician graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial technology/technician degree recipients from Southwest Virginia Community College generally make around $32,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial technology/technician schools. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,043, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Typical student debt for industrial technology/technician graduates is $29,010. Early-career industrial technology/technician graduates make about $40,620. Set against $29,010 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
More Industrial Technology/Technician Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.