2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College the best value for a degree in engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Engineering graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Henry Ford Community College earned it the #2 place for engineering. Set in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,568 in tuition and fees, 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.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,144, with out-of-state students paying around $9,094. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Kalamazoo Valley Community College earn a median of $44,198 early in their careers. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,736, while out-of-state students pay about $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. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lewis And Clark Community College earned it the #5 place for engineering. Set in the suburb of Godfrey, Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,340, with out-of-state students paying around $7,840. Students borrow a median of $9,602 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $41,313. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lansing Community College earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,100, with out-of-state students paying around $11,300. Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harper College placed #7 among the best values for engineering. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,894 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #8 for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lorain County Community College earned the #9 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,265 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,611 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College landed the #10 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Livonia, Schoolcraft College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, compared with $6,501 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,949 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $46,283. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Lake County ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $9,785. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #12 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,192 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $35,348. That is a strong return on a $9,192 median debt.
Oakland Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Auburn Hills, Oakland Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,865. Early-career engineering graduates make about $43,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College placed #14 among the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rock Valley College placed #15 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, while out-of-state students pay about $7,379. Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Ivy Tech Community College earn a median of $40,734 early in their careers. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College landed the #17 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #18 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,819 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $89,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Stark State College earned the #19 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,349. Engineering graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Illinois Central College earned the #20 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800, while out-of-state students pay about $12,150. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,222 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $53,190. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $20,445 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $85,981. Set against $20,445 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Owens Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Owens Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Perrysburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $19,383. Early-career engineering graduates make about $45,785. That is a strong return on a $19,383 median debt.
Vincennes University placed #23 among the best values for engineering. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $14,506. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Vincennes University generally make around $45,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Purdue University Northwest ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,656. Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $73,969 early in their careers. Set against $27,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Northcentral Technical College landed the #25 spot for engineering value this year. Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wausau. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, compared with $7,132 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,709. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $41,696. 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:
Narrow Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 214 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 61 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.
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
