[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 12 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering-related fields students.
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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 Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in Ohio. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. 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. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Ohio University Main Campus, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned it the #3 place for engineering-related fields. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $65,996. Set against $26,404 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Miami University Oxford earned it the #4 place for engineering-related fields. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $74,624. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $56,077 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
