[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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.
For return on investment in engineering-related fields, no school beat Missouri University Of Science And Technology this year. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $80,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeast Missouri State University earned it the #2 place for engineering-related fields. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $43,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,408. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $84,866 early in their careers. Set against $24,408 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% 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 · 5 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.
