2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Other Engineering Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #1 spot for value among other engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $62,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $97,456. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #3 place for other engineering. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, with out-of-state students paying around $34,891. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $69,685. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in other engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $95,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $55,469 early in their careers. Set against $26,689 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus earned the #6 position for value in other engineering this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $25,347. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $49,045. That is a strong return on a $25,347 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $59,877 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #8 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $76,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #9 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, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $22,000. Other Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $78,734 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $26,774. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for other engineering value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the other engineering program here. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #12 spot for other engineering value this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $22,875. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $67,007. That is a strong return on a $22,875 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #13 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. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $43,654. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #14 spot for other engineering value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the other engineering program here. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $162,147. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #15 for value in other engineering this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,760. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,799 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $74,924. Set against $27,799 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other engineering education at a price that pays off.
