[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1312 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering students.
Where you study engineering affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Moorpark College tops our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Diego Miramar College earned it the #2 place for engineering. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, with out-of-state students paying around $10,002. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Ana College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Students borrow a median of $11,196 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $39,633. Set against $11,196 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,428 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cerritos College earned it the #5 place for engineering. Located in the suburb of Norwalk, Cerritos College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $12,004 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,306 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cerritos College generally make around $29,495. Set against $11,306 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Dominguez Hills generally make around $52,683. That is a strong return on a $15,886 median debt. California State University Dominguez Hills admits about 93% of applicants.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned the #7 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,464 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,691. Early-career engineering graduates make about $99,947. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Henry Ford Community College landed the #8 spot for engineering value this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,813 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Henry Ford Community College earn a median of $36,247 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,813 median debt.
Cuny City College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,925. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $73,412. That is a strong return on a $15,925 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College came in at #10 for value in engineering this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
California State University Los Angeles placed #11 among the best values for engineering. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,423 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles generally make around $74,746. Set against $17,423 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
San Diego Mesa College came in at #12 for value in engineering this year. San Diego Mesa College is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,999 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of San Diego Mesa College earn a median of $29,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Monica College landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Santa Monica, Santa Monica College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,156, while out-of-state students pay about $10,708. Median earnings reach $42,193 ten years out.
Norco College landed the #14 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Norco, Norco College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,428 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,498. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $8,203. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,206. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ventura College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Ventura, Ventura College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,250 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $99,778. Set against $20,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Florida landed the #16 spot for engineering value this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $20,748. Early-career engineering graduates make about $85,191. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton placed #17 among the best values for engineering. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, with out-of-state students paying around $20,070. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,125. Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $79,671 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Central New Mexico Community College landed the #18 spot for engineering value this year. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Students from in state pay about $2,060 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,112 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Central New Mexico Community College earn a median of $34,751 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Fresno City College earned the #19 position for value in engineering this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $7,234. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Fresno City College generally make around $37,470. That is a strong return on a $7,234 median debt.
Santa Rosa Junior College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Junior College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,318 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,308. Students borrow a median of $14,692 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Santa Rosa Junior College earn a median of $80,047 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Shasta College landed the #21 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Students borrow a median of $12,275 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Shasta College generally make around $50,330. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Washtenaw Community College landed the #22 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Washtenaw Community College earn a median of $45,332 early in their careers. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College landed the #23 spot for engineering value this year. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, while out-of-state students pay about $9,094. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark Community College placed #24 among the best values for engineering. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Students from in state pay about $4,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $9,602. Engineering graduates of Lewis And Clark Community College earn a median of $41,313 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,602 median debt.
Central Piedmont Community College earned the #25 position for value in engineering this year. Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,861. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering value ranking:
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 · 1312 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 373 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).
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
