Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering-related fields, balancing cost against outcomes.
Lakeshore Technical College tops our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Students borrow a median of $11,582 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Lakeshore Technical College earn a median of $41,252 early in their careers. Set against $11,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,083 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $66,798. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,516 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $110,914. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $74,268 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis admits about 76% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for engineering-related fields. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,625 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $72,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $56,998. Set against $23,677 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University earned the #7 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $112,624. Set against $25,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $81,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $20,778. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Wayne State University landed the #10 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $128,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $27,875. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $68,919. Set against $27,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $22,053. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,857 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $104,028. That is a strong return on a $27,857 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout placed #14 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $71,117. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $31,122 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $84,244 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,122 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University landed the #16 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $67,992. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $72,164. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #19 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $23,756. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $76,563. That is a strong return on a $23,756 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,404. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $65,996. That is a strong return on a $26,404 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Institute Of Technology placed #21 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $31,361. Students borrow a median of $36,380 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $56,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,176. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $24,787 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $47,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
Northwestern University earned the #23 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $144,879. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford placed #24 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $74,624. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Dayton earned the #25 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,140. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $56,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering-related fields value ranking:
Narrow Engineering-Related Fields Schools by State
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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
