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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

16 Ranked Colleges
284 Degrees Awarded
$25,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Master's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 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.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 16 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 $48-$75k” list to help you make the college 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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k

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 $48-$75k.

Top 16 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $48-$75k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington University in St Louis. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 53 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took 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.

Full WUSTL 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 #2 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 24 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 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 Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 56 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UMN Twin Cities

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Columbia, Missouri, and it awarded 7 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Mizzou did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Mizzou

#12 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s ME degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree me students whose families make $48-$75k list, UMN Duluth has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Duluth are $28,606, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UMN Duluth

#6 in overall quality

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 $48-$75k ranking. University of Nebraska - Lincoln is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 22 masters’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UNL also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Nebraska - Lincoln

#7

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#9 in overall quality

University of North Dakota ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of North Dakota is a public institution located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UND also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Dakota are $18,326.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of North Dakota

#8 in overall quality

North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #8. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Fargo, North Dakota. It awarded 11 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

North Dakota State University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 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 North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

#9

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Manhattan, Kansas 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.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at K -State

#10

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#13 in overall quality

Wichita 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 $48-$75k ranking. Wichita State University is a fairly large school located in Wichita, Kansas that handed out 23 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 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 WSU are $15,112.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at WSU

#11

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#5 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of Iowa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Iowa City, Iowa, this large public school handed out 5 degrees to qualified masters’s ME students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #5 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 University of Iowa are $27,613.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Iowa

#12

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#11 in overall quality

South Dakota State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 9 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region master’s degree me students whose families make $48-$75k list, South Dakota State has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota State University are $16,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University

#12

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City 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 $48-$75k ranking. University of Missouri - Kansas City 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.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Missouri - Kansas City are $26,699, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City Mechanical Engineering Report

#14

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Kansas is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

KU also took the #10 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 University of Kansas are $25,007.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at University of Kansas

With a ranking of #15, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k list. SD Mines is a small public school situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awarded 2 masters’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also took the #0 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250.

Full SD Mines Mechanical Engineering Report

#16

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Master’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 29 diplomas to qualified masters’s ME students 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of St Thomas Minnesota are $24,814.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UST MN

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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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