2023 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
6
Ranked Colleges
947
Degrees Awarded
$16,100
Avg Net Price*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.
In 2020-2021, 46,178 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 21st most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $69,007 and had an average of $23,944 in loans still to pay off.
Across Virginia, there were 947 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $63,739 and $24,782 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 6 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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 ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 6 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #1 spot on the list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 466 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $11,934 for Virginia ME students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Tech.
The low undergrad 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech
Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 64 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at University of Virginia, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia is $12,476 for virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, 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 97%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Old Dominion University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Old Dominion University is a large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 150 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Old Dominion also took the #3 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $13,335 for virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Old Dominion University.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Old Dominion University
Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the #4 spot on the list. Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 86 students in 2020-2021.
GMU also took the #4 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GMU is $14,781 for Virginia ME students whose families make $0-$30k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full GMU Mechanical Engineering Report
Out of the 6 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #5 spot on the list. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 106 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k list, VCU has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Commonwealth University is $14,507 for virginia me students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at VCU
