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2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

15 Ranked Colleges
1,251 Degrees Awarded
$17,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor's in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

Across Pennsylvania, there were 1,713 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $65,600 and $26,332 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,251 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 15 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great mechanical engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

The me 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 ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in Pennsylvania

#1

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Pennsylvania. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 60 students in 2019-2020.

UPenn also took the #1 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $3,181 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Pennsylvania.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UPenn

#2

Lafayette College

Easton, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lafayette College. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lafayette College is a small school located in Easton, Pennsylvania that handed out 57 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Lafayette did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Lafayette College is $6,934 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.2% 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%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette

#3

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Carnegie Mellon University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 130 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Carnegie Mellon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. It costs about $12,542 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Carnegie Mellon.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Carnegie Mellon University Mechanical Engineering Report

#4

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lehigh University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lehigh University is a medium-sized school located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that handed out 101 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lehigh, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lehigh is $14,080 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k. Pitt is a public institution located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school has a large population, and it awarded 181 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Pitt, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $20,075 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.5% 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%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Campus

#6

York College of Pennsylvania

York, Pennsylvania

York College of Pennsylvania came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. YCP is a private not-for-profit institution located in York, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

YCP also took the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. It costs about $16,618 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend York College of Pennsylvania.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at York College of Pennsylvania

#7

Bucknell University

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Bucknell University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lewisburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s ME degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

Bucknell also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Bucknell is $22,342 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 2.1% 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%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Bucknell

#8

Temple University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Temple University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large public school handed out 138 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Temple did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list. The yearly cost to attend Temple University is $18,315 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Temple University

#9

Villanova University

Villanova, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #9, Villanova University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Villanova is a fairly large school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 70 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Villanova also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Villanova University is $22,517 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Villanova University Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

Gannon University

Erie, Pennsylvania

Gannon University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Gannon University is located in Erie, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Gannon has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Gannon is $16,984 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 Gannon Mechanical Engineering Report

#11

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Ship also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Ship is $16,461 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Ship

#12

Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #12, Thomas Jefferson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Thomas Jefferson University also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Thomas Jefferson University is $18,118 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Thomas Jefferson University

#13

Drexel University

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #13, Drexel University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 189 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Drexel has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Drexel is $25,234 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.3% 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 Drexel Mechanical Engineering Report

#14

Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This small school is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 51 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Wilkes also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” list, coming in at #11. It costs about $21,491 for pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Wilkes.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Wilkes University

#15

Widener University

Chester, Pennsylvania

Widener University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Bachelor’s in Pennsylvania For Those Making $0-$30k list. Widener is a medium-sized school located in Chester, Pennsylvania that handed out 38 bachelors’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our pennsylvania bachelor’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Widener has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Pennsylvania” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Widener is $31,431 for Pennsylvania Bachelor’s Degree ME students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Widener University 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

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.

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