[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering-related fields education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value engineering-related fields schools.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering-related fields, balancing cost against outcomes.
Oakland University tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Students borrow a median of $25,972 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $112,624. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Lakeshore Technical College, which ranked #2. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,087. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $11,582. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $41,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Purdue University Northwest, which ranked #3. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,083 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $66,798. Set against $25,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. 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. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,689. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $128,271. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #6 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $17,625. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $74,268. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best values for engineering-related fields. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University landed the #9 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $68,919 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University came in at #10 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,209. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $81,686 early in their careers. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus came in at #11 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. Students from in state pay about $7,176 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $47,735. That is a strong return on a $24,787 median debt. Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #12 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $23,677 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $56,998 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,677 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. 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.
Western Michigan University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $67,992. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #15 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,813. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,813 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University landed the #16 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Students from in state pay about $16,990 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $31,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $84,244. That is a strong return on a $31,122 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #17 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $71,117 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,774. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $72,164 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Central Michigan University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. 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. Set against $27,857 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University landed the #20 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $23,756 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $76,563 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,756 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus earned the #21 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,546. 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.
Indiana Institute Of Technology placed #22 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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,361. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $36,380 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology generally make around $56,185. Set against $36,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Bowling Green. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,404 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Bowling Green State University Main Campus earn a median of $65,996 early in their careers. Set against $26,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus landed the #24 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $62,458. That is a strong return on a $23,530 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford landed the #25 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,519, while out-of-state students pay about $38,965. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $74,624 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering-related fields value ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
