by our College Data Analytics Team
[Pre-Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/pre-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 91 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pre-engineering students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pre-engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Henry Ford Community College earned the #1 spot for value among pre-engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $11,813. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $36,247. Set against $11,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-engineering schools. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, with out-of-state students paying around $9,615. Median earnings reach $41,393 ten years out.
Students looking for strong value in pre-engineering will find it at College Of San Mateo, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Students borrow a median of $20,250 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Pre-Engineering graduates of Ventura College earn a median of $99,778 early in their careers. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #5 place for pre-engineering. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $11,196. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Sequoias earned the #6 position for value in pre-engineering this year. Located in the city of Visalia, College Of The Sequoias is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,394 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,038. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $10,288. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $37,749. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-engineering schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Set against $8,098 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santa Monica College placed #8 among the best values for pre-engineering. Santa Monica College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Monica. In-state tuition and fees average $1,156, compared with $10,708 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,193.
Durham Technical Community College landed the #9 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Durham Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,240 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,531 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,408 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Durham Technical Community College generally make around $46,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cerritos College came in at #10 for value in pre-engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $11,306. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Hartnell College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-engineering schools. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. Pre-Engineering graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Piedmont Community College landed the #12 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Students borrow a median of $11,861 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $40,629. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Johnston Community College landed the #13 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,490 in student loans. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $37,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College came in at #14 for value in pre-engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,197, with out-of-state students paying around $8,853. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College earned the #15 position for value in pre-engineering this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College came in at #16 for value in pre-engineering this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $15,525. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $44,198. That is a strong return on a $15,525 median debt.
Modesto Junior College came in at #17 for value in pre-engineering this year. Set in the city of Modesto, Modesto Junior College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of The Canyons placed #18 among the best values for pre-engineering. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,776 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Pre-Engineering graduates of College Of The Canyons earn a median of $51,913 early in their careers. Set against $9,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College placed #19 among the best values for pre-engineering. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, compared with $10,924 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,191 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $38,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College landed the #20 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, compared with $14,812 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $15,890. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #21 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the city of Albuquerque, Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,112 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Clovis Community College Fresno came in at #22 for value in pre-engineering this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638.
Oklahoma City Community College placed #23 among the best values for pre-engineering. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $39,848. That is a strong return on a $11,750 median debt.
Midlands Technical College came in at #24 for value in pre-engineering this year. Set in the suburb of West Columbia, Midlands Technical College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,100, while out-of-state students pay about $14,700. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $17,611. Pre-Engineering graduates of Midlands Technical College earn a median of $39,610 early in their careers. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Fayetteville Technical Community College earned the #25 position for value in pre-engineering this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Fayetteville Technical Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,628 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,772 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,909 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Fayetteville Technical Community College generally make around $40,584. Set against $16,909 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools also delivered strong value for pre-engineering this year:
Explore the best-value pre-engineering schools at other degree levels:
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 · 91 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 91 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.