2023 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
54
Ranked Colleges
7,978
Degrees Awarded
$9,600
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Mechanical Engineering is the 21st most popular major in the country with 46,178 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 the Great Lakes region, there were 7,978 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,318 and $24,852 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 54 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality 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 mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 142 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $917 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Northwestern University.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 Northwestern University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. U-M is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 462 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $5,670 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, 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 96%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Purdue University - Main Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. West Lafayette, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 582 students in 2020-2021.
Purdue also took the #4 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Purdue University - Main Campus is $5,853 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 268 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,788 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UW - Madison
Out of the 54 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #5 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 300 students in 2020-2021.
UIUC also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,036 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad 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%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Michigan Technological University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan Tech is a public institution located in Houghton, Michigan. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 429 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Michigan Technological University is $8,983 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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 Michigan Technological University Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #7, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 325 students in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,581 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State
Oakland University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and it awarded 222 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Oakland also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The estimated yearly cost for Oakland is $8,839 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Oakland Mechanical Engineering Report
Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis is a public institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 235 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend IUPUI is $8,216 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at IUPUI
University of Michigan - Dearborn did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. UM Dearborn is located in Dearborn, Michigan and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 183 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
UM Dearborn also took the #19 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $10,465 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Dearborn.
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%.
Full UM Dearborn Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Notre Dame came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 135 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $9,136 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Notre Dame
Michigan State University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Michigan State University is a large public school situated in East Lansing, Michigan. It awarded 308 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State University is $15,170 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Michigan State University
University of Illinois at Chicago came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school handed out 222 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,351 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UIC
University of Wisconsin - Stout came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Menomonie, Wisconsin is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 71 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW - Stout is $10,958 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Wisconsin - Stout
Purdue University Northwest ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Hammond, Indiana, this medium-sized public school handed out 66 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,608 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Purdue University Northwest.
Full Purdue University Northwest Mechanical Engineering Report
Wayne State University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 163 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $11,414 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Wayne State
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 72 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $8,825 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Case Western Reserve University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cleveland, Ohio is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 125 students in 2020-2021.
Case Western also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #8. The yearly cost to attend Case Western is $15,570 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Case Western Mechanical Engineering Report
University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #19. University of Wisconsin - Platteville is located in Platteville, Wisconsin and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 198 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $10,334 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Platteville.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Youngstown State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #20. This fairly large school is located in Youngstown, Ohio, and it awarded 72 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $9,972 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Youngstown State University.
Full Youngstown State University Mechanical Engineering Report
Grand Valley State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. GVSU is a large public school situated in Allendale, Michigan. It awarded 70 ’s ME degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend GVSU is $11,026 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
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%.
Full GVSU Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Michigan - Flint did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Flint, Michigan is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
It costs about $8,952 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UM Flint.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Michigan - Flint
Purdue University Fort Wayne did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Fort Wayne, Indiana is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ME degrees to 15 students in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend PFW is $8,427 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at PFW
Western Michigan University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 103 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
WMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,552 for Great Lakes Region ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Western Michigan University.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Western Michigan University
With a ranking of #25, University of Akron Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value ME Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Akron Main Campus is located in Akron, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 215 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.
University of Akron Main Campus also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #24. The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $15,510 for great lakes region me students whose families make $30-$48k.
Full University of Akron Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Report
