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2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

40 Ranked Colleges
1,105 Degrees Awarded
$28,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master's in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Mechanical Engineering is the 20th most popular major in the country with 47,598 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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 the Southeast region, there were 9,478 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,291 and $23,127 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,105 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,950 and $43,286 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 40 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school. 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 ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k

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

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Southeast Region

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke is a fairly large school located in Durham, North Carolina that handed out 40 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Duke has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke are $59,140, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Duke

#2

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 102 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, UF has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UF

#3

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanderbilt University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Vanderbilt also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt University are $50,624, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 226 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Georgia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus are $31,334, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus

#5

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina

Out of the 40 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, North Carolina State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Raleigh, North Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 83 students in 2019-2020.

NC State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Carolina State University are $28,999, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full North Carolina State University Mechanical Engineering Report

University of Central Florida ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Orlando, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 45 students in 2019-2020.

UCF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCF Mechanical Engineering Report

#7

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #7, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida State is located in Tallahassee, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 24 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Florida State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State University are $26,707.

Full Florida State University Mechanical Engineering Report

University of South Florida - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USF Tampa is a large school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 48 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, USF Tampa has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at USF Tampa are $21,126, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at USF Tampa

With a ranking of #9, Florida International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida International University are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Florida International University

#10

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of North Florida is a fairly large public school situated in Jacksonville, Florida. It awarded 3 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Florida are $21,930, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UNF Mechanical Engineering Report

#11

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina
#22 in overall quality

Citadel Military College of South Carolina came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Citadel Military College of South Carolina is a public institution located in Charleston, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The Citadel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Citadel Military College of South Carolina are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Citadel Military College of South Carolina

#12

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Tech came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. It awarded 44 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Tech are $30,547, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech

#13

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, this large public school awarded 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida Atlantic University are $18,482, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University

With a ranking of #14, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. The University of Tennessee - Knoxville is a large public school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 22 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Knoxville did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Knoxville are $31,798, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UT Knoxville

#14 in overall quality

Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Louisiana State University also took the #14 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Louisiana State University are $29,970, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University

#16

North Carolina A & T State University

Greensboro, North Carolina

With a ranking of #16, North Carolina A & T State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. North Carolina A & T State University is a fairly large school located in Greensboro, North Carolina that handed out 3 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NC A&T are $20,662.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina A & T State University

#17

University of South Carolina - Columbia

Columbia, South Carolina
#11 in overall quality

University of South Carolina - Columbia ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Columbia, South Carolina, and it awarded 21 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UofSC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UofSC are $30,160, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UofSC Mechanical Engineering Report

#18

West Virginia University

Morgantown, West Virginia
#24 in overall quality

West Virginia University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. West Virginia University is a public institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WVU, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WVU are $26,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at West Virginia University

#19

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

With a ranking of #19, Clemson University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Clemson, South Carolina, this large public school awarded 59 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Clemson not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Clemson University are $23,246, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Clemson

#20

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Marshall University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Marshall University is a public institution located in Huntington, West Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Marshall University are $21,162, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Marshall University

#21

Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, Tennessee

With a ranking of #21, Tennessee Technological University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Cookeville, Tennessee, this fairly large public school handed out 21 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Tennessee Tech University are $20,498, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University

#22

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, Mississippi
#12 in overall quality

Mississippi State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, and it awarded 24 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Mississippi State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mississippi State University are $23,950, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University

#23

University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky
#16 in overall quality

University of Kentucky landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Kentucky is a public institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UK not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Kentucky are $33,216.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Kentucky

With a ranking of #24, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public institution located in Tallahassee, Florida. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Florida A&M University also took the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida A&M University are $24,669, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

#25

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, Arkansas

With a ranking of #25, University of Arkansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Southeast Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Arkansas is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UARK, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UARK are $22,121, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Arkansas

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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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