2026 Best Value Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance](/majors/mechanical-repair-technologies/heavy-industrial-equipment-maintenance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong heavy/industrial equipment maintenance education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 76 schools to find the best return on investment for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance students.
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2026 Best Value Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Schools
For return on investment in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance, no school beat Montcalm Community College this year. Located in the rural area of Sidney, Montcalm Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,936, with out-of-state students paying around $10,104. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Montcalm Community College generally make around $66,358. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Joliet Junior College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value heavy/industrial equipment maintenance schools. Set in the suburb of Joliet, Joliet Junior College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,530, while out-of-state students pay about $13,800. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $11,995 in student loans. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $40,118 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,995 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. That is a strong return on a $7,727 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,889 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance will find it at Rend Lake College, which ranked #5. Rend Lake College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Ina. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,500, while out-of-state students pay about $7,800. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $8,688 in student loans. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $61,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kaskaskia College placed #6 among the best values for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance. Located in the rural area of Centralia, Kaskaskia College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, compared with $12,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates is $7,875. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $45,658. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lakeshore Technical College landed the #7 spot for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance value this year. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical student debt for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates is $11,582. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $41,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #8 spot for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance value this year. Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rice Lake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,926, with out-of-state students paying around $7,169. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $55,793. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waukesha County Technical College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value heavy/industrial equipment maintenance schools. Set in the suburb of Pewaukee, Waukesha County Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,803, while out-of-state students pay about $7,046. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $16,595 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Waukesha County Technical College generally make around $46,398. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Milwaukee Area Technical College earned the #10 position for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Milwaukee Area Technical College is a very large public school located in the city of Milwaukee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,184, with out-of-state students paying around $7,427. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $18,296 in student loans. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates of Milwaukee Area Technical College earn a median of $38,325 early in their careers. Set against $18,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College earned the #11 position for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,960 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,203 for out-of-state students. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $14,997 in student loans. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox Valley Technical College placed #12 among the best values for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance. Fox Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the suburb of Appleton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,040, while out-of-state students pay about $7,283. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $13,319 in student loans. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates of Fox Valley Technical College earn a median of $44,020 early in their careers. Set against $13,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blackhawk Technical College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value heavy/industrial equipment maintenance schools. Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. Students from in state pay about $4,747 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $44,256. Set against $13,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Rapids Community College earned the #14 position for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,179, with out-of-state students paying around $12,219. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $11,780 in student loans. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $41,689. That is a strong return on a $11,780 median debt.
Illinois Central College earned the #15 position for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates is $12,222. Soon after graduation, heavy/industrial equipment maintenance degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College came in at #16 for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Students borrow a median of $11,709 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $41,696. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value heavy/industrial equipment maintenance schools. Located in the city of Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,844, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $56,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Western Technical College La Cross came in at #18 for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Set in the city of La Crosse, Western Technical College La Cross is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,820, compared with $7,078 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,166 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $46,591. That is a strong return on a $9,166 median debt.
Ferris State University landed the #19 spot for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance value this year. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,778 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $18,125 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $60,432 early in their careers. Set against $18,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Madison Area Technical College came in at #20 for value in heavy/industrial equipment maintenance this year. Madison Area Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,977, compared with $7,141 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the heavy/industrial equipment maintenance program here. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $44,279. That is a strong return on a $16,812 median debt.
Northwest State Community College landed the #21 spot for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance value this year. Located in the rural area of Archbold, Northwest State Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,698, with out-of-state students paying around $9,170. Typical student debt for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates is $6,500. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $45,123. That is a strong return on a $6,500 median debt.
Miat College Of Technology landed the #22 spot for heavy/industrial equipment maintenance value this year. Located in the suburb of Canton, Miat College Of Technology is a mid-sized private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,165. Heavy/industrial Equipment Maintenance graduates carry a median of $14,593 in student loans. Early-career heavy/industrial equipment maintenance graduates make about $45,182. Set against $14,593 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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
