[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering-related fields education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering-related fields students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering-related fields degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Purdue University Northwest, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in Indiana. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,357 in tuition and fees, 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #2 place for engineering-related fields. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,762, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $17,625. 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. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $16,625. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $72,252. That is a strong return on a $16,625 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana Institute Of Technology earned it the #4 place for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,361. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $36,380. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Indiana Institute Of Technology generally make around $56,185. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the town of Angola, Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,176. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,787. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Trine University Fort Wayne Regional Campus generally make around $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.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology landed the #6 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Terre Haute. Students from in state pay about $56,046 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,148. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology earn a median of $83,140 early in their careers. Set against $25,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology admits about 77% of applicants.
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
