Where you study engineering-related fields affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Learn more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Engineering-Related Fields Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering-related fields, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Cuny City College, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in the United States. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $13,389. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $53,154. That is a strong return on a $13,389 median debt. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lakeshore Technical College earned it the #2 place for engineering-related fields. 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, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Lakeshore Technical College generally make around $41,252. That is a strong return on a $11,582 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes California State University Northridge one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $48,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Stanford University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,910. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $117,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,492 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Central Florida one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $120,323. Set against $21,620 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
Utah Valley University came in at #6 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $13,850. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $63,780. Set against $13,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University East Bay landed the #7 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,583 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,183. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $58,951 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University East Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #8 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,829. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of South Florida Main Campus generally make around $52,885. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida International University earned the #9 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, while out-of-state students pay about $18,964. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $19,349 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $52,517. Set against $19,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Rice University landed the #10 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $11,904. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $75,299. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #11 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $110,914. That is a strong return on a $26,516 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
San Jose State University placed #12 among the best values for engineering-related fields. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $51,252. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Christian Brothers University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the city of Memphis, Christian Brothers University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,420. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $32,416. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Christian Brothers University earn a median of $51,040 early in their careers. Set against $32,416 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest placed #15 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $66,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville placed #16 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kingsville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,892, while out-of-state students pay about $25,746. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,531. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of $44,510 early in their careers. Set against $25,531 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University earned the #17 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,905, compared with $18,745 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $52,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lamar University admits about 86% of applicants.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #18 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $16,625. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $72,252. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Utah State University placed #19 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Utah State University is a very large public school located in the city of Logan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, with out-of-state students paying around $24,993. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $13,988. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $54,059. Set against $13,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #20 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $74,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
Arizona State University placed #21 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $31,000. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $76,149 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Portland State University landed the #22 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Portland State University is a very large public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,118, while out-of-state students pay about $29,136. Students borrow a median of $26,475 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $47,717. That is a strong return on a $26,475 median debt. Portland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Middle Tennessee State University placed #23 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the city of Murfreesboro, Middle Tennessee State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,266, with out-of-state students paying around $31,574. Students borrow a median of $19,576 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Middle Tennessee State University generally make around $67,431. That is a strong return on a $19,576 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,677 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $56,998 early in their careers. Set against $23,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Universidad Del Turabo ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gurabo. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,999 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $28,231. That is a strong return on a $22,999 median debt.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering-related fields value ranking:
Narrow Engineering-Related Fields Schools by Region
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 237 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 60 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.
[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
