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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region

6 Colleges in the United States
$16,119 Avg Student Debt
$46,228 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Badge [Manufacturing Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/industrial-production-technology/manufacturing-engineering-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 45 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools.

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2026 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in manufacturing engineering technology, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools

1
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, MO

Leading the list is Crowder College, our #1 best value for manufacturing engineering technology in the The Plains States Region. Crowder College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Neosho. Students from in state pay about $4,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,784. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $9,887. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $36,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

A rank of #2 makes State Fair Community College one of the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,176, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,328 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from State Fair Community College generally make around $39,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3
Hennepin Technical College crest
Hennepin Technical College
Brooklyn Park, MN

Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at Hennepin Technical College, which ranked #3. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,940. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $17,887. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

4

Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at Missouri State University West Plains, which ranked #4. Located in the town of West Plains, Missouri State University West Plains is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,106. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering technology graduates is $11,250. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Missouri State University West Plains earn a median of $42,523 early in their careers. Set against $11,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

5

Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering technology will find it at North Dakota State College Of Science, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Wahpeton, North Dakota State College Of Science is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,974, while out-of-state students pay about $6,973. Students borrow a median of $18,609 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $48,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

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6

Pine Technical College placed #6 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Set in the rural area of Pine City, Pine Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,738 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,454 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Pine Technical College earn a median of $32,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,454 median debt.

7

Missouri Southern State University earned the #7 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,600, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,241 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Missouri Southern State University generally make around $39,434. Set against $22,241 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri Southern State University admits about 97% of applicants.

8

Washburn Institute Of Technology earned the #8 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public school located in the city of Topeka. In-state tuition and fees average $8,880. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Washburn Institute Of Technology generally make around $39,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

East Central College landed the #9 spot for manufacturing engineering technology value this year. Set in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,272, while out-of-state students pay about $7,680. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $12,062 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $37,925. Set against $12,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

10

Mitchell Technical Institute ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the town of Mitchell, Mitchell Technical Institute is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,524. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering technology degree recipients from Mitchell Technical Institute generally make around $50,348. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

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11

Linn State Technical College placed #11 among the best values for manufacturing engineering technology. Linn State Technical College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Linn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,160, compared with $14,610 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $11,042 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Linn State Technical College earn a median of $45,538 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

12

Saint Cloud State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value manufacturing engineering technology schools. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,245. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $16,084 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $69,616 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.

13

University Of Northern Iowa earned the #13 position for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,213 to complete the manufacturing engineering technology program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering technology graduates make about $69,122. Set against $23,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.

14

Pittsburg State University came in at #14 for value in manufacturing engineering technology this year. Set in the town of Pittsburg, Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, compared with $19,744 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering Technology graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $64,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.

Narrow Manufacturing Engineering Technology Schools by State

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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 · 45 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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