Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering-related fields, balancing cost against outcomes.
Leading the list is Northern Illinois University, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in Illinois. 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. That is a strong return on a $25,209 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $72,164. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Northwestern University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. 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. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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/) 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.
