2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in Ohio
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
Lorain County Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools in Ohio. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, while out-of-state students pay about $8,860. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,611. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Set against $17,611 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Sinclair Community College one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Students borrow a median of $9,192 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. That is a strong return on a $9,192 median debt.
Stark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Owens Community College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Perrysburg, Owens Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,870, with out-of-state students paying around $10,502. Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,383 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $45,785. Set against $19,383 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Akron Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,484 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $69,569. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Youngstown State University earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,361 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $65,797. That is a strong return on a $26,361 median debt. Youngstown State University admits about 84% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #7 position for value in engineering this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,624 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $80,395. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Toledo earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,407 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $73,608. Set against $22,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,991 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $24,125. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $75,365. That is a strong return on a $24,125 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Cleveland State University came in at #10 for value in engineering this year. Cleveland State University is a large public school located in the city of Cleveland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $28,156 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $70,233. That is a strong return on a $28,156 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Lake Campus came in at #11 for value in engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,372 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $25,000. Engineering graduates of Wright State University Lake Campus earn a median of $66,331 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Marietta College landed the #12 spot for engineering value this year. Marietta College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marietta. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,652. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering graduates make about $82,205. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Marietta College admits about 79% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for engineering. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Students borrow a median of $25,951 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $81,431. That is a strong return on a $25,951 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kent State University At Kent earned the #14 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, compared with $21,575 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $29,000. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $56,274. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus earned the #15 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,912, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering graduates make about $67,990. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,815 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earn a median of $77,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Otterbein University landed the #17 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Westerville, Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,548 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $63,243. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Cedarville University landed the #18 spot for engineering value this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $70,112 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Baldwin Wallace College placed #19 among the best values for engineering. Set in the suburb of Berea, Baldwin Wallace College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,832 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,307 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Baldwin Wallace College earn a median of $46,668 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,307 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University placed #20 among the best values for engineering. Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,600. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,989 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $68,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,989 median debt. Ohio Northern University admits about 74% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,519 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,763 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Miami University Oxford generally make around $72,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of Dayton earned the #22 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $49,140 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,009 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $77,554. That is a strong return on a $26,009 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #23 for value in engineering this year. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $66,608 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $24,598. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $80,219. Set against $24,598 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 53 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
