2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that 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 Plains States region, there were 3,206 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,126 and $23,280 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 284 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $53,438 and $39,783 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent mechanical engineering programs, but they also 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
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 for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.
Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 53 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at WUSTL, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school handed out 56 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Mechanical Engineering Report
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 #3 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. This medium-sized school is located in Rolla, Missouri, and it awarded 24 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
Missouri University of Science and Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Duluth also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Duluth are $28,606, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Minnesota - Duluth Mechanical Engineering Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Missouri - Columbia. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Mizzou is a large school located in Columbia, Missouri that handed out 7 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
Mizzou also took the #7 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 22 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
UNL not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Nebraska - Lincoln
North Dakota State University - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Fargo, North Dakota that handed out 11 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
North Dakota State University also took the #8 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University are $11,589, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #8, University of North Dakota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UND is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UND, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of North Dakota Mechanical Engineering Report
South Dakota State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Brookings, South Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.
South Dakota State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State are $16,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full South Dakota State University Mechanical Engineering Report
Kansas State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Manhattan, Kansas, and it awarded 4 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Kansas State University are $24,115, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #11, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 23 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
WSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wichita State University are $15,112, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Iowa came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Iowa City, Iowa is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.
Iowa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Iowa are $27,613.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Iowa
University of Missouri - Kansas City did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. UMKC is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMKC, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Mechanical Engineering Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Kansas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Lawrence, Kansas, and it awarded 8 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
KU also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Kansas
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is a small school located in Rapid City, South Dakota that handed out 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at SD Mines, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
With a ranking of #16, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This medium-sized school is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and it awarded 29 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.
UST MN did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UST MN are $24,814, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Narrow Results by Region
Southeast
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Southeast Region
Rocky Mountains
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Rocky Mountains Region
Middle Atlantic
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Southwest Region
New England
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the New England Region
Plains States
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Far Western US
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
Great Lakes
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Narrow Results by State
Kansas
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Kansas
Iowa
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Iowa
North Dakota
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in North Dakota
Nebraska
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Nebraska
Minnesota
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Minnesota
South Dakota
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in South Dakota
Missouri
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Missouri
Switch to a More General Major
Switch to a Similar Major
General Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for General Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Agricultural Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Agricultural Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Biomedical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Biomedical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Civil Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Civil Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Electrical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Electrical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Engineering Science
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Engineering Science (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Materials Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Materials Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Mining Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mining Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Petroleum Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Petroleum Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Construction Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Construction Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Manufacturing Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Geoscience Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Geoscience Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Energy Systems Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Energy Systems Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Architectural Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Architectural Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Chemical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Chemical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Computer Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Computer Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Engineering Mechanics
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Engineering Mechanics (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Environmental Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Environmental Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Metallurgical Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Metallurgical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Nuclear Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Nuclear Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Systems Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Systems Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Industrial Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Industrial Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Operations Research
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Operations Research (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Biological Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Biological Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Other Engineering
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Other Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Switch to a Different Ranking Method
Best Mechanical Engineering Master's Degree Schools in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students in the Plains States Region
Most Focused Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Online Mechanical Engineering Schools
Mechanical Engineering students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $0-$30k) in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students with family income less than $30k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students with family income $48-$75k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income Over $110k) in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students with family income exceeding $110k in the Plains States Region
Highest Paid Master's Degree Mechanical Engineering Graduates in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students in the Plains States Region
Most Popular Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region (With Aid)
Mechanical Engineering students getting aid in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students with family income $30-$48k in the Plains States Region
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $75-$110k) in the Plains States Region
Mechanical Engineering students with family income $75-$110k in the Plains States Region
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.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Michel Villeneuve.
Featured Engineering Schools
Request Info |
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |