2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in Indiana
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Ivy Tech Community College the best value for a degree in engineering in Indiana. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,154, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,889. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Ivy Tech Community College generally make around $40,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vincennes University earned it the #2 place for engineering. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,126, while out-of-state students pay about $16,858. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Set against $14,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Northwest is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Students borrow a median of $27,656 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $73,969 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #4 makes Indiana University Bloomington one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,144, compared with $41,891 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,542 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $20,445. Engineering graduates of Purdue University Main Campus earn a median of $85,981 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,445 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis placed #6 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,762 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,891 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,166 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $78,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Southern Indiana came in at #7 for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,066, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $21,999. Engineering graduates of University Of Southern Indiana earn a median of $74,976 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,999 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,532, with out-of-state students paying around $22,887. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,550. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $67,115. That is a strong return on a $17,550 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology College Of Professional Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,896. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $32,750. Early-career engineering graduates make about $77,456. Set against $32,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,361 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $32,750. Engineering graduates of Indiana Institute Of Technology earn a median of $77,456 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,750 median debt. Indiana Institute Of Technology admits about 70% of applicants.
Valparaiso University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Valparaiso. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,450. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Valparaiso University generally make around $71,050. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Trine University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Trine University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Angola. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,560. Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Trine University generally make around $67,596. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,258 in student loans. Engineering graduates of University Of Notre Dame earn a median of $78,906 early in their careers. Set against $20,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology came in at #14 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,046. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,775 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Rose Hulman Institute Of Technology generally make around $80,459. Set against $24,775 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
[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.
