2027 Best Value Structural Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Structural Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/structural-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value structural engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Structural Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the structural engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Structural Engineering Schools
Leading the list is California State Polytechnic University Pomona, our #1 best value for structural engineering in the United States. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. In-state tuition and fees average $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete the structural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $49,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
California State University Northridge came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value structural engineering schools. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $18,732. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $62,768. Set against $18,732 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Florida earned it the #3 place for structural engineering. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $21,374. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $69,321. That is a strong return on a $21,374 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for structural engineering. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $16,400. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $65,478. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in structural engineering will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Students borrow a median of $19,444 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $75,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University placed #6 among the best values for structural engineering. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $23,866. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $64,671. That is a strong return on a $23,866 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor landed the #7 spot for structural engineering value this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $67,764 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University Kingsville ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value structural engineering schools. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $24,625. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $66,429. Set against $24,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
San Diego State University landed the #9 spot for structural engineering value this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,728 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,328 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,832 to complete the structural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Diego State University admits about 36% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University came in at #10 for value in structural engineering this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $70,928. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City earned the #11 position for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,424 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $60,324 early in their careers. Set against $24,424 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology placed #12 among the best values for structural engineering. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $70,664 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh landed the #13 spot for structural engineering value this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, with out-of-state students paying around $32,847. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $70,346. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology earned the #14 position for value in structural engineering this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Students borrow a median of $24,085 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $68,288. Set against $24,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Western Michigan University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value structural engineering schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $29,156. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $69,706. That is a strong return on a $29,156 median debt. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $23,545 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $68,031. That is a strong return on a $23,545 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine earned the #17 position for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the structural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Louisville landed the #18 spot for structural engineering value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $24,503. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $66,064. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #19 spot for structural engineering value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $26,000. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $71,760. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Alabama came in at #20 for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $51,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
University At Buffalo earned the #21 position for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Buffalo, University At Buffalo is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,936, compared with $31,536 for out-of-state students. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,913 in student loans. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. That is a strong return on a $22,913 median debt. University At Buffalo admits about 74% of applicants.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #22 for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,570, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $24,500. Structural Engineering graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $61,163 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Auburn University earned the #23 position for value in structural engineering this year. Auburn University is a very large public school located in the city of Auburn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $55,422. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
University Of Southern California earned the #24 position for value in structural engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $8,125. Structural Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $85,262 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg came in at #25 for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,838 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg earn a median of $67,966 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg admits about 98% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 31 Best Value Structural Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s structural engineering value ranking:
Other Structural Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value structural engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Structural Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 31 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.
