2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 11,925 people earned their degree in general engineering, making the major the 78th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, general engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $66,152 and had an average of $20,077 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 444 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,650 and $24,821 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 28 general engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 2 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank General Engineering Schools

The engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 2 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois

#1 in overall quality

$30,083 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 2 schools in the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 20 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about General Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

$27,036 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

$73,635 Average Early-Career Earnings

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 8 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best General Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIC General Engineering Report

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region
• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

Notes and References

References

• 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).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Rémi Kaupp.

Featured Engineering Schools

Request Info

Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More >