[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 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.
Lamar University tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools in Texas. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,988. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. Set against $26,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #2 spot this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $14,694. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,247 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $11,904. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Texas At Arlington one of the best values for engineering-related fields. The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public school located in the city of Arlington. In-state tuition and fees average $11,950, with out-of-state students paying around $29,582. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,632. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $55,304. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Arlington admits about 80% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes The University Of Texas At Tyler one of the best values for engineering-related fields. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $20,959. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of The University Of Texas At Tyler earn a median of $75,371 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Houston came in at #6 for value in engineering-related fields this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,255. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $57,529. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #7 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas placed #8 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $21,817 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $49,157. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos earned the #9 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $47,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,659 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #10 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $57,819. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station placed #11 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $120,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $111,319. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
