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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

298 Ranked Colleges
48,197 Degrees Awarded
$46,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Engineering is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 6th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 200,458 degrees were awarded to students with this major. In 2017-2018, engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,888 and had an average of $23,564 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 48,197 engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 298 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the 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

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 654 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011.

Full Stanford Engineering Report

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 313 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Full Northwestern University Engineering Report

#3

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Duke University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 272 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Duke also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Duke Engineering Report

#4

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California
#20 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. California Institute of Technology is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 75 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at California Institute of Technology

#5

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 525 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#6

Dartmouth College

Hanover, New Hampshire
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #6, Dartmouth College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dartmouth is located in Hanover, New Hampshire and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 169 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

Dartmouth not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Dartmouth are $58,120, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at Dartmouth

#7

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#9 in overall quality

Princeton University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Princeton is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Princeton, New Jersey. It awarded 73 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Princeton, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton University are $56,470, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Princeton University Engineering Report

#8

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#15 in overall quality

University of Pennsylvania came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 295 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UPenn did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Engineering at University of Pennsylvania

#9

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#3 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Johns Hopkins is a large school located in Baltimore, Maryland that handed out 759 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins University are $59,425.

Read full report on Engineering at Johns Hopkins

#10

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#13 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 295 students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. Average graduate tuition and fees at Washington University in St Louis are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at WUSTL

#11

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#10 in overall quality

Harvard University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Harvard University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 179 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Harvard University

#12

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Brown University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and it awarded 79 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Brown, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Brown University

#13

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. U-M is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,083 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Full U-M Engineering Report

#14

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Florida landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 548 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UF is also in the top of our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.

Full UF Engineering Report

#15

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, Tennessee
Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Vanderbilt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 43 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Vanderbilt is also in the top of our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanderbilt are $50,624, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Vanderbilt

#16

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#25 in overall quality

Rice University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 93 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Rice

#17

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#12 in overall quality

Cornell University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Located in Ithaca, New York, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 803 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

Cornell also took the #12 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042.

Read more about Engineering at Cornell

#23 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 367 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read more about Engineering at UW - Madison

Top 15% in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 654 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, UIUC is in the top on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Top 15% in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 576 diplomas to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also claimed a top spot on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Engineering Report

#21

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s engineering degrees to qualified students.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Engineering Report

#22

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#21 in overall quality

Tufts University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Medford, Massachusetts, and it awarded 91 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Tufts not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Tufts are $55,168, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Engineering at Tufts University

#23

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#14 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 842 degrees to qualified masters’s engineering students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.

Read full report on Engineering at UC Berkeley

#24

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
Top 15% in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 576 masters’s engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UMCP also claimed a top spot on our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Engineering at University of Maryland - College Park

#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. New York, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s engineering degrees to 1,110 students in 2019-2020.

Columbia also made our “Best Engineering Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Engineering at Columbia University in the City of New York

Rest of the Best 45 in Best Value Engineering Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 45 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#29

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#30

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#31

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts
#32

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#34

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#40

The City College of New York

New York, New York
#41

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
#43

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#44

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

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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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