by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Snow College, our #1 best value for general engineering in Utah. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Snow College earn a median of $42,776 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,440 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Utah Valley University one of the best values for general engineering. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $16,478 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Salt Lake Community College, which ranked #3. Salt Lake Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,426, with out-of-state students paying around $14,244. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,855. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $42,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Weber State University earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Located in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $19,176. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $53,920. That is a strong return on a $19,176 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Dixie State College Of Utah one of the best values for general engineering. Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public school located in the city of Saint George. In-state tuition and fees average $6,306, while out-of-state students pay about $18,246. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Dixie State College Of Utah generally make around $42,266. That is a strong return on a $18,666 median debt.
The ranking above is published 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.