2026 Best Value Engineering Technologies Schools in the Great Lakes Region

1

Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL

Our analysis ranked Moraine Valley Community College the best value for a degree in engineering technologies in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, compared with $9,846 for out-of-state students. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

2

Lake Land College
Mattoon, IL

Students looking for strong value in engineering technologies will find it at Lake Land College, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Mattoon, Lake Land College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,415, while out-of-state students pay about $14,301. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $7,769. Engineering Technologies graduates of Lake Land College earn a median of $30,294 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

3

Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, IL

Illinois Valley Community College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Set in the town of Oglesby, Illinois Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $16,385 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,099 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Illinois Valley Community College generally make around $33,224. That is a strong return on a $8,099 median debt.

4

Lewis And Clark Community College
Godfrey, IL

Lewis And Clark Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering technologies, landing the #4 spot this year. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $9,602. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Lewis And Clark Community College generally make around $60,223. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

5

City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College
Chicago, IL

A rank of #5 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College one of the best values for engineering technologies. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $11,533 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

6

North Central State College
Mansfield, OH

North Central State College landed the #6 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Set in the rural area of Mansfield, North Central State College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,786, while out-of-state students pay about $11,374. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from North Central State College generally make around $47,458. Set against $12,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

7

Kankakee Community College
Kankakee, IL

Kankakee Community College came in at #7 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Kankakee, Kankakee Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,220, while out-of-state students pay about $25,830. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $13,289. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Kankakee Community College generally make around $60,509. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

8

Henry Ford Community College
Dearborn, MI

Henry Ford Community College placed #8 among the best values for engineering technologies. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,816. Students borrow a median of $18,876 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $36,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

9

Cuyahoga Community College District
Cleveland, OH

Cuyahoga Community College District earned the #9 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Cuyahoga Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,249, compared with $7,249 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,636 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $39,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

10

Triton College
River Grove, IL

Triton College landed the #10 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Set in the suburb of River Grove, Triton College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,070 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,330. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $12,994 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Triton College earn a median of $43,278 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

11

Washtenaw Community College
Ann Arbor, MI

Washtenaw Community College placed #11 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,504. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $42,813. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

12

Oakland Community College
Auburn Hills, MI

Oakland Community College came in at #12 for value in engineering technologies this year. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $13,750. Engineering Technologies graduates of Oakland Community College earn a median of $45,844 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.

13

Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH

Sinclair Community College landed the #13 spot for engineering technologies value this year. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $12,525. Engineering Technologies graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $55,297 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,525 median debt.

14

Lorain County Community College
Elyria, OH

Lorain County Community College earned the #14 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Lorain County Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Elyria. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,860. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $23,598. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

15

Lansing Community College
Lansing, MI

Lansing Community College earned the #15 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Lansing Community College is a large public school located in the city of Lansing. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $16,700. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Lansing Community College generally make around $46,103. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

16

Elgin Community College
Elgin, IL

Elgin Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $7,727. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.

17

Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo, MI

Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned the #17 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $18,000. Engineering Technologies graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $46,493 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

18

Harper College
Palatine, IL

Harper College placed #18 among the best values for engineering technologies. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

19

Monroe County Community College
Monroe, MI

Monroe County Community College placed #19 among the best values for engineering technologies. Monroe County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Monroe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,759, while out-of-state students pay about $8,267. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $16,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Monroe County Community College generally make around $47,729. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

20

College Of Dupage
Glen Ellyn, IL

College Of Dupage came in at #20 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

21

Macomb Community College
Warren, MI

Macomb Community College placed #21 among the best values for engineering technologies. Macomb Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Warren. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,660, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $8,296. Engineering Technologies graduates of Macomb Community College earn a median of $44,701 early in their careers. Set against $8,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

22

Schoolcraft College
Livonia, MI

Schoolcraft College came in at #22 for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $15,677 in student loans. Engineering Technologies graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

23

Joliet Junior College
Joliet, IL

Joliet Junior College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering technologies schools. Located in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Students borrow a median of $11,995 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Engineering Technologies graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. Set against $11,995 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.

24

Northwestern Michigan College
Traverse City, MI

Northwestern Michigan College earned the #24 position for value in engineering technologies this year. Set in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Students borrow a median of $13,834 to complete the engineering technologies program here. Early-career engineering technologies graduates make about $50,148. That is a strong return on a $13,834 median debt.

25

Muskegon Community College
Muskegon, MI

Muskegon Community College came in at #25 for value in engineering technologies this year. Located in the city of Muskegon, Muskegon Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,250, with out-of-state students paying around $16,010. Typical student debt for engineering technologies graduates is $14,928. Soon after graduation, engineering technologies degree recipients from Muskegon Community College generally make around $48,267. That is a strong return on a $14,928 median debt.