2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of New Orleans, our #1 best value for engineering science in the Southeast Region. University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of New Orleans. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,172, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of New Orleans generally make around $42,720. That is a strong return on a $23,048 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Coastal Carolina University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete the engineering science program here. Engineering Science graduates of Coastal Carolina University earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at University Of Mississippi Main Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $73,758. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Mississippi Main Campus admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at Vanderbilt University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $81,126. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Sweet Briar College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sweet Briar. Students from in state pay about $26,160 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,943. Sweet Briar College admits about 76% of applicants.
Narrow Engineering Science Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
[Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
