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

4 Colleges in the United States
$18,112 Avg Student Debt
$45,841 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Technology Badge [Mechanical Engineering Technology](/majors/engineering-technologies/mechanical-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 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mechanical engineering technology schools.

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

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical engineering technology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools

1
Crowder College crest
Crowder College
Neosho, MO

Crowder College tops our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering technology schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,104, compared with $5,784 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $9,887 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates make about $33,816. Set against $9,887 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering technology will find it at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Kansas City, Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. Students borrow a median of $12,281 to complete the mechanical engineering technology program here. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wichita Area Technical College earned it the #3 place for mechanical engineering technology. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita Area Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,237. Students borrow a median of $7,503 to complete the mechanical engineering technology program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering technology degree recipients from Wichita Area Technical College generally make around $21,427. That is a strong return on a $7,503 median debt.

4

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Minnesota State University Mankato earned it the #4 place for mechanical engineering technology. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, with out-of-state students paying around $18,942. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering technology graduates is $27,000. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $64,005 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.

5

A rank of #5 makes Pittsburg State University one of the best values for mechanical engineering technology. 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. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering technology graduates make about $57,234. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Pittsburg State University admits about 89% of applicants.

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6
Mcpherson College crest
Mcpherson College
McPherson, KS

Mcpherson College earned the #6 position for value in mechanical engineering technology this year. Set in the town of McPherson, Mcpherson College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,146. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering technology program here. Mechanical Engineering Technology graduates of Mcpherson College earn a median of $42,278 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.

Narrow Mechanical Engineering Technology Schools by State

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 16 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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