2026 Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Polymer & Plastics Engineering](/majors/engineering/polymer-and-plastics-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong polymer & plastics engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for polymer & plastics engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in polymer & plastics engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools
For return on investment in polymer & plastics engineering, no school beat University Of Southern Mississippi this year. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of University Of Southern Mississippi earn a median of $52,338 early in their careers. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Mississippi admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Lowell one of the best values for polymer & plastics engineering. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Typical student debt for polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, polymer & plastics engineering degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $77,114. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Western Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in polymer & plastics engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,582, with out-of-state students paying around $28,707. Students borrow a median of $21,656 to complete the polymer & plastics engineering program here. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $60,375 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,656 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College earned it the #4 place for polymer & plastics engineering. Located in the suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 97%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania College Of Technology earned it the #5 place for polymer & plastics engineering. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. Typical student debt for polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $27,875. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $71,651. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other Polymer & Plastics Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value polymer & plastics engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Polymer & Plastics Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 20 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.