2023 Best Value Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
22
Ranked Colleges
2,950
Degrees Awarded
$18,700
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in general mechanical engineering, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States.
Across the Plains States region, there were 2,950 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in general mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the general mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid.
Top 22 Best Value Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 272 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology is $12,964 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology
Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 285 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities General Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. Located in Ames, Iowa, this large public school handed out 451 degrees to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid list, Iowa State has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Iowa State is $16,002 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Iowa State University General Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 168 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $16,559 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Iowa. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 121 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Iowa is $19,401 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Iowa
With a ranking of #6, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 170 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
North Dakota State University also took the #8 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus is $16,998 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Nebraska - Lincoln came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. UNL is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 151 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
UNL also took the #7 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UNL is $17,013 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
University of North Dakota landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and it awarded 112 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UND also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for University of North Dakota is $16,966 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UND
Kansas State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Manhattan, Kansas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 182 students in 2020-2021.
K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $18,433 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid per year to attend Kansas State University.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University
With a ranking of #10, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 102 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid list, WSU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wichita State University is $14,859 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at WSU
With a ranking of #11, University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a fairly large public school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 27 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMSL, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - St Louis is $12,232 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - St Louis General Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Kansas did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Lawrence, Kansas, this large public school handed out 140 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
KU also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $20,257 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid per year to attend KU.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Kansas
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this fairly large public school awarded 79 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
UMKC also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for University of Missouri - Kansas City is $15,702 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City General Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Minnesota - Duluth did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. UMN Duluth is a medium-sized school located in Duluth, Minnesota that handed out 121 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for UMN Duluth is $18,505 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at UMN Duluth
Washington University in St Louis ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. WUSTL is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 156 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington University in St Louis is $26,921 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at WUSTL
South Dakota State University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. South Dakota State is located in Brookings, South Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 80 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid list, South Dakota State has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
SD Mines did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for SD Mines is $19,919 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SD Mines General Mechanical Engineering Report
Saint Cloud State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Cloud State University is $14,581 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full St. Cloud State University General Mechanical Engineering Report
Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Minnesota State Mankato is a fairly large public school situated in Mankato, Minnesota. It awarded 31 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Minnesota State Mankato did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Minnesota State University - Mankato is $17,159 for plains states region general mechanical engineering students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Minnesota State University - Mankato General Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #20, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 105 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of St Thomas Minnesota is $31,066 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of St Thomas Minnesota
With a ranking of #21, Dordt University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Sioux Center, Iowa, and it awarded 23 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.
Dordt also took the #19 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $24,313 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid per year to attend Dordt.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Dordt
With a ranking of #22, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region For Those Getting Aid list. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.
SLU also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Louis University is $25,039 for Plains States Region General Mechanical Engineering students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Saint Louis University General Mechanical Engineering Report
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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
- *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
