[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value engineering-related fields schools.
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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 University Of Maryland Baltimore County, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the suburb of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore County is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,256, compared with $31,225 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $21,331 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Maryland Baltimore County earn a median of $49,179 early in their careers. Set against $21,331 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #2 makes Johns Hopkins University one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,730. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $13,426. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Johns Hopkins University generally make around $109,380. That is a strong return on a $13,426 median debt. Johns Hopkins University admits about 6% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #3 place for engineering-related fields. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $53,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,755 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $96,471 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at University At Buffalo, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $22,232. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. Set against $22,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Pennsylvania Western University landed the #6 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $28,263 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Pennsylvania Western University earn a median of $45,448 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #7 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,120 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,120 median debt. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Gannon University earned the #8 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,656. Students borrow a median of $26,934 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Gannon University generally make around $73,658. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
Robert Morris University placed #9 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,770. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $26,748 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Robert Morris University generally make around $58,900. That is a strong return on a $26,748 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University earned the #10 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $24,488 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $95,527. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
New York Institute Of Technology placed #11 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Located in the rural area of Old Westbury, New York Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,560. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,435. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $61,734. That is a strong return on a $25,435 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Cornell University landed the #12 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,314. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $15,005. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $83,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,686. Students borrow a median of $16,155 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Clarkson University came in at #14 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the town of Potsdam, Clarkson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,398. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $89,312. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $23,529. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $89,327. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Hofstra University came in at #16 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the suburb of Hempstead, Hofstra University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,660. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,848. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $55,705. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hofstra University admits about 68% of applicants.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #17 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $27,750 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $74,923 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
George Washington University placed #18 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $22,910. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $145,051. Set against $22,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
New York University came in at #19 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $88,045. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Drexel University earned the #20 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $101,570. Set against $28,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Syracuse. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,528. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,130. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $54,785. That is a strong return on a $26,130 median debt. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Stevens Institute Of Technology landed the #22 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the suburb of Hoboken, Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,975. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Stevens Institute Of Technology generally make around $93,081. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Pratt Institute Main landed the #23 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Pratt Institute Main is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,845. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,103. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Pratt Institute Main earn a median of $38,569 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.
