[Metallurgical Engineering](/majors/engineering/metallurgical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong metallurgical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for metallurgical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the metallurgical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is The University Of Texas At El Paso, our #1 best value for metallurgical engineering in the United States. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,490 in student loans. Early-career metallurgical engineering graduates make about $53,478. That is a strong return on a $20,490 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the best values for metallurgical engineering. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career metallurgical engineering graduates make about $80,627. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in metallurgical engineering will find it at South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, metallurgical engineering degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology generally make around $71,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value metallurgical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Typical student debt for metallurgical engineering graduates is $26,269. Early-career metallurgical engineering graduates make about $78,984. Set against $26,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Explore the best-value metallurgical engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Metallurgical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
