2026 Best Value General Engineering Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region

[General Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/general-engineering-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general engineering science schools.
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2026 Best Value General Engineering Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Engineering Science Schools
Leading the list is Vincennes University, our #1 best value for general engineering science in the Great Lakes Region. Vincennes University is a very large public school located in the town of Vincennes. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Typical student debt for general engineering science graduates is $14,506. Soon after graduation, general engineering science degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Toledo earned it the #2 place for general engineering science. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. General Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $24,923 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering science degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $52,675. Set against $24,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering science schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the general engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering science degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the best values for general engineering science. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete the general engineering science program here. Early-career general engineering science graduates make about $86,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
Kettering University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering science schools. Located in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $46,425. General Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $28,913 in student loans. Early-career general engineering science graduates make about $87,338. That is a strong return on a $28,913 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.