2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in District of Columbia
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
Leading the list is University Of The District Of Columbia, our #1 best value for engineering in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,662, with out-of-state students paying around $12,514. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $32,304. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. That is a strong return on a $32,304 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Catholic University Of America, which ranked #2. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $24,811. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $77,473. Set against $24,811 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,710. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $94,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 47% of applicants are accepted.
Howard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Howard University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $35,810 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Roughly 41% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
