2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in the United States
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
California State University Dominguez Hills earned the #1 spot for value among engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,454 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,054 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $52,683. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earned it the #2 place for engineering. 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. Engineering graduates of Cuny Bernard M Baruch College earn a median of $99,947 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at California State University Los Angeles earned it the #3 place for engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,164, with out-of-state students paying around $19,764. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,423. Engineering graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $81,156 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,423 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Florida earned it the #4 place for engineering. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,748 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $94,690. Set against $20,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. 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. Early-career engineering graduates make about $101,736. That is a strong return on a $15,125 median debt. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
California State University Fresno placed #6 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,341, compared with $19,941 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,289 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $65,742 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,289 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College placed #7 among the best values for engineering. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,925. Early-career engineering graduates make about $71,929. That is a strong return on a $15,925 median debt. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
California State University Northridge earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $18,559. Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $84,227 early in their careers. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida landed the #9 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,009 in student loans. Engineering graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of $64,115 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,009 median debt. The University Of West Florida admits about 58% of applicants.
Princeton University earned the #10 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $91,338. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #11 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $24,203 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $80,472. Set against $24,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Florida Polytechnic University came in at #12 for value in engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,940, while out-of-state students pay about $21,004. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Florida Polytechnic University generally make around $67,032. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $17,822 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $74,165. That is a strong return on a $17,822 median debt. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
Stanford University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,910. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $103,482. Set against $7,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego landed the #15 spot for engineering value this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $18,235 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $99,076. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #16 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,150 in student loans. Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $55,907 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology placed #17 among the best values for engineering. Located in the town of Socorro, New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,007. Early-career engineering graduates make about $63,616. That is a strong return on a $16,007 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,301. Early-career engineering graduates make about $65,536. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #19 for value in engineering this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $20,347. Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $74,858 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,919, with out-of-state students paying around $43,155. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,546. Early-career engineering graduates make about $130,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Rice University came in at #21 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $13,398. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $93,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
California State University Sacramento placed #22 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $18,768. Early-career engineering graduates make about $79,144. That is a strong return on a $18,768 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Northwest earned the #23 position for value in engineering this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. In-state tuition and fees average $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,656 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $70,650 early in their careers. Set against $27,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,230 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $72,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn landed the #25 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. Students borrow a median of $23,819 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $99,310. Set against $23,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for engineering this year:
Other Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 1312 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 208 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.
