2027 Best Value Pre-Engineering Schools in New York
[Pre-Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/pre-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pre-engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pre-engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Pre-Engineering Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pre-engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pre-Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Monroe Community College, our #1 best value for pre-engineering in New York. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,056 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,185 in student loans. Pre-Engineering graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. Set against $9,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in pre-engineering will find it at Suffolk County Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,630, while out-of-state students pay about $12,460. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $11,246. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Orange County Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,526, compared with $12,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $14,152. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $43,442. That is a strong return on a $14,152 median debt.
Nassau Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-engineering schools. Nassau Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Garden City. In-state tuition and fees average $6,330, with out-of-state students paying around $12,130. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $11,850. Pre-Engineering graduates of Nassau Community College earn a median of $38,734 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,850 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pre-engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,796 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Pre-Engineering graduates of Hudson Valley Community College earn a median of $43,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Erie Community College landed the #6 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,100 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Pre-Engineering graduates of Erie Community College earn a median of $37,069 early in their careers. Set against $12,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Broome Community College landed the #7 spot for pre-engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,624 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Students borrow a median of $16,830 to complete the pre-engineering program here. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $41,560. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #8 position for value in pre-engineering this year. Suny Westchester Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Valhalla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,764 in student loans. Early-career pre-engineering graduates make about $57,520. That is a strong return on a $8,764 median debt.
Rockland Community College placed #9 among the best values for pre-engineering. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Rockland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,862. Pre-Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,167 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Rockland Community College generally make around $41,799. Set against $11,167 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Finger Lakes Community College came in at #10 for value in pre-engineering this year. Finger Lakes Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Canandaigua. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,258, with out-of-state students paying around $8,442. Typical student debt for pre-engineering graduates is $16,736. Soon after graduation, pre-engineering degree recipients from Finger Lakes Community College generally make around $40,467. Set against $16,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
More Pre-Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
