2026 Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heavy-industrial-equipment-maintenance/industrial-mechanics-and-maintenance-technology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong industrial mechanics & maintenance technology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 30 schools to find the best return on investment for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology students.
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2026 Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology Schools
Leading the list is Metropolitan Community College Area, our #1 best value for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Omaha, Metropolitan Community College Area is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,375, while out-of-state students pay about $4,950. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $12,799 in student loans. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $45,583. That is a strong return on a $12,799 median debt.
Central Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Grand Island, Central Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,360, compared with $4,800 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $10,277. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Central Community College generally make around $43,218. Set against $10,277 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Riverland Community College one of the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Located in the town of Austin, Riverland Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,297. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $15,732 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Riverland Community College generally make around $49,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kirkwood Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial mechanics & maintenance technology schools. Kirkwood Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,176, with out-of-state students paying around $8,220. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $15,779. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $41,681. That is a strong return on a $15,779 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Garden City Community College earned it the #5 place for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Garden City Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $3,690, compared with $4,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $11,084. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $35,476. Set against $11,084 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ozarks Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,256, with out-of-state students paying around $7,040. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the industrial mechanics & maintenance technology program here. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $36,644. That is a strong return on a $15,866 median debt.
North Iowa Area Community College came in at #7 for value in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology this year. North Iowa Area Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Mason City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,653, compared with $9,551 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,043 to complete the industrial mechanics & maintenance technology program here. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of North Iowa Area Community College earn a median of $44,466 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Iowa Central Community College came in at #8 for value in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology this year. Located in the town of Fort Dodge, Iowa Central Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,496 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,788. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $16,135. Early-career industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates make about $39,624. That is a strong return on a $16,135 median debt.
Southwestern Community College Creston ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value industrial mechanics & maintenance technology schools. Located in the town of Creston, Southwestern Community College Creston is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,064, with out-of-state students paying around $8,316. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $15,881 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Southwestern Community College Creston generally make around $46,106. That is a strong return on a $15,881 median debt.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College placed #10 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hibbing. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $17,029. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College earn a median of $40,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hennepin Technical College placed #11 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Hennepin Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Brooklyn Park. Students from in state pay about $5,940 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology graduates is $17,887. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Hennepin Technical College earn a median of $52,059 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,887 median debt.
Southeastern Community College West Burlington landed the #12 spot for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology value this year. Southeastern Community College West Burlington is a mid-sized public school located in the town of West Burlington. Students from in state pay about $6,420 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,570. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $16,126 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance technology degree recipients from Southeastern Community College West Burlington generally make around $45,760. That is a strong return on a $16,126 median debt.
Washburn Institute Of Technology placed #13 among the best values for industrial mechanics & maintenance technology. Set in the city of Topeka, Washburn Institute Of Technology is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,880. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $11,362 in student loans. Soon after graduation, industrial mechanics & maintenance 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.
Ranken Technical College earned the #14 position for value in industrial mechanics & maintenance technology this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Ranken Technical College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,008. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates carry a median of $13,050 in student loans. Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technology graduates of Ranken Technical College earn a median of $61,155 early in their careers. Set against $13,050 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
