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Cheapest Engineering Technology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Berea College stands alone among affordable Engineering Technology programs with a net price of $4,483 despite its private status, while Eastern New Mexico University graduates earn $97,959 annually - nearly four times the $26,353 median for Berea graduates. This unusual cost-earnings relationship reflects the varied career paths within Engineering Technology, from technical support roles to advanced manufacturing positions. The field serves as a bridge between theoretical engineering and hands-on application, making graduates valuable in America's growing infrastructure modernization efforts. Public institutions dominate this affordable market, with Texas Southmost College charging just $3,148 in-state tuition and Bellingham Technical College offering focused training at $4,226. However, graduation rates vary dramatically across programs, from Texas Southmost's 26.8% to California State University-Long Beach's 69.9%, suggesting that institutional support structures matter as much as affordability in determining student success.
50
Programs
$4,483 – $17,365
Net Price Range
$56,061
Avg. Program Earnings
49.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Engineering Technology, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $4,483 $49,326 62.0% 24.6%
2 $4,971 $4,226 45.5%
3 $5,458 $3,148 26.8%
4 $6,199 $6,863 39.8% 27.6%
5 $6,500 $9,859 49.3% 87.7%
6 $6,747 $8,147 52.2% 78.1%
7 $7,237 $3,412 48.1% 74.2%
8 $8,155 $6,360 61.8% 48.0%
9 $8,931 $7,008 69.9% 40.0%
10 $9,957 $8,064 36.1% 64.6%
11 $10,089 $9,838 47.7% 84.0%
12 $10,512 $7,602 55.8% 93.2%
13 $11,024 $11,990 54.0% 95.7%
14 $11,257 $8,460 52.0% 71.2%
15 $11,432 $6,770 59.0% 83.9%
16 $11,480 $7,272 37.1%
17 $11,580 $7,439 66.7% 55.4%
18 $11,592 $14,952 44.8% 75.0%
19 $12,174 $8,373 44.8% 99.0%
20 $12,188 $9,992 41.1% 92.3%
21 $12,579 $4,532 59.1% 84.8%
22 $12,599 $9,506 54.0% 72.5%
23 $12,909 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
24 $12,997 $9,648 61.2% 88.4%
25 $13,091 $8,353 47.2% 96.1%
26 $13,253 $10,344 49.4% 94.6%
27 $13,346 $7,278 21.6%
28 $13,493 $5,633 47.8% 88.0%
29 $13,776 $9,322 51.4% 94.9%
30 $13,824 $7,278 24.5%
31 $13,832 $10,990 38.0% 68.9%
32 $13,945 $9,992 83.1% 52.7%
33 $13,953 $7,392 25.4%
34 $14,093 $13,403 45.2% 68.0%
35 $14,207 $10,084 54.2% 78.1%
36 $14,352 $11,164 59.6% 79.1%
37 $14,532 $9,496 55.7% 86.3%
38 $14,542 $8,295 34.7% 76.8%
39 $14,846 $8,675 44.5% 93.8%
40 $15,001 $8,689 44.1% 94.9%
41 $15,336 $9,739 49.4% 71.3%
42 $15,794 $9,950 49.9% 85.3%
43 $16,025 $9,228 55.1% 84.6%
44 $16,177 $13,244 56.3% 91.5%
45 $16,438 $11,450 56.2% 87.7%
46 $16,494 $18,900 55.9%
47 $16,496 $19,022 73.1% 66.0%
48 $16,972 $5,786 48.1% 67.9%
49 $17,050 $10,164 53.4% 77.5%
50 $17,365 $10,142 52.5% 86.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Berea College's Engineering Technology program unusual for its price point?

Berea College charges a net price of $4,483 as a private nonprofit institution, making it cheaper than most public universities on this list. The college has a highly selective 24.58% acceptance rate, yet graduates earn just $26,353 annually. This reflects Berea's mission-driven approach to serving low-income students, though the earnings suggest graduates may pursue different career paths than typical engineering technology roles.

How do graduation rates vary among the most affordable Engineering Technology programs?

Graduation rates range dramatically from 26.8% at Texas Southmost College to 69.9% at California State University-Long Beach. Most programs fall between 45-60%, with technical colleges like Bellingham Technical College achieving 45.5% rates. The variation often reflects institutional resources and student support services rather than program quality alone.

Where do Engineering Technology graduates earn the highest salaries among affordable programs?

Eastern New Mexico University graduates earn $97,959 annually, the highest among schools with available earnings data. New Mexico State University follows at $59,253, while Southern Utah University graduates earn $51,273. These southwestern schools benefit from proximity to energy, aerospace, and defense industries that value engineering technology skills.

Is there a significant cost difference between public and private Engineering Technology programs?

Public programs dominate the affordable category, with in-state tuition ranging from $3,148 at Texas Southmost College to $11,990 at University of North Alabama. Only Berea College represents private education at $4,483 net cost, though its published tuition of $49,326 demonstrates the impact of financial aid. Most public programs offer net prices between $6,000-$11,000.

Does program selectivity correlate with affordability in Engineering Technology?

The most selective program, Berea College at 24.58% acceptance, happens to be the cheapest at $4,483 net cost. However, most affordable programs maintain high acceptance rates, with University of North Alabama accepting 95.68% of applicants and California State University-Sacramento accepting 93.21%. This suggests affordable Engineering Technology programs generally prioritize access over exclusivity.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.