Go to a used office furniture place. I went to one just this week. That had some simple, sturdy library tables that they were selling for $75. They were beat up, but they will last forever. Way longer than those cheap wooden tables.
I've been in the market for something similar. If you want it to last a long time, you should go for high-pressure laminate. That is what they use at universities, corporations, etc. They are way more expensive but you can find them used easily.
You should visit several of them, because they all seem to cater to a niche quality-wise, and you may have to shop around to find what you want. Seriously, once you see what they have and for how much, you will never go back to Ikea for office stuff.