2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Engineering Schools
Stanford University tops our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools in the United States. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $7,500. Other Engineering graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $49,741 early in their careers. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $19,250. Other Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $56,522 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $20,000. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $74,668. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Located in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,125, with out-of-state students paying around $16,866. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $23,846. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Louisiana Tech University generally make around $49,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $27,000. Other Engineering graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $69,685 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maryland College Park came in at #6 for value in other engineering this year. Located in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $80,931. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Pueblo placed #7 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,720, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $76,059. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Pueblo admits about 95% of applicants.
California State University Chico ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. California State University Chico is a large public school located in the city of Chico. In-state tuition and fees average $8,472, with out-of-state students paying around $21,072. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $23,000. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $74,204. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Mississippi State University placed #9 among the best values for other engineering. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,202 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,637. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,469 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of Mississippi State University earn a median of $68,045 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in other engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $22,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $78,734 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,277, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $23,013. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. That is a strong return on a $23,013 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon State University landed the #12 spot for other engineering value this year. Set in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $31,000. Other Engineering graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Michigan State University earned the #13 position for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Michigan State University generally make around $67,007. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $24,546. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #15 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $23,292. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $43,654. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #16 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $99,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
Northeastern University came in at #17 for value in other engineering this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,162. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,512 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $75,253. That is a strong return on a $22,512 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #18 for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lafayette College earned the #19 position for value in other engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,648 in tuition and fees. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Set against $16,931 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Other Other Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 149 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
[Other Engineering](/majors/engineering/other-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other engineering education at a price that pays off.
