2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Bristol Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools in Massachusetts. Located in the suburb of Fall River, Bristol Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,832 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,776. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,134. Engineering graduates of Bristol Community College earn a median of $37,897 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,134 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Bunker Hill Community College, which ranked #2. Bunker Hill Community College is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $6,168 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,112. Students borrow a median of $11,893 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Bunker Hill Community College generally make around $51,782. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes North Shore Community College one of the best values for engineering. Located in the suburb of Danvers, North Shore Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,352 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,920 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,145 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from North Shore Community College generally make around $51,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Holyoke Community College earned it the #4 place for engineering. Holyoke Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Holyoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,988, compared with $10,932 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,907 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Holyoke Community College generally make around $43,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Massasoit Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Brockton, Massasoit Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,376, with out-of-state students paying around $10,320. Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,894 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Massasoit Community College generally make around $42,938. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Springfield Technical Community College earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,904, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. Students borrow a median of $9,707 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Springfield Technical Community College generally make around $42,457. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Quinsigamond Community College placed #7 among the best values for engineering. Quinsigamond Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Worcester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,262, while out-of-state students pay about $11,206. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,036. Engineering graduates of Quinsigamond Community College earn a median of $46,631 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harvard University placed #8 among the best values for engineering. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $177,890. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #9 for value in engineering this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,214 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $118,743. Set against $14,214 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,264. Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $84,063. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Olin College landed the #11 spot for engineering value this year. Olin College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Needham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,742. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $14,512. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Olin College generally make around $108,179. Set against $14,512 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 25%.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #12 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Boston, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,874 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $82,118. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering graduates make about $75,072. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #14 spot for engineering value this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Students from in state pay about $15,612 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Students borrow a median of $27,800 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earn a median of $71,106 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,800 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,178. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Smith College generally make around $53,571. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public school located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,833 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Maritime Academy earn a median of $100,024 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,833 median debt. Massachusetts Maritime Academy admits about 95% of applicants.
Boston University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $26,748. Early-career engineering graduates make about $92,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University earned the #18 position for value in engineering this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,061 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Northeastern University generally make around $95,451. Set against $25,061 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northeastern University admits about 5% of applicants.
Western New England University placed #19 among the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,820. Students borrow a median of $26,698 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Western New England University earn a median of $69,921 early in their careers. Set against $26,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology came in at #20 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,884. Students borrow a median of $26,850 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wentworth Institute Of Technology generally make around $78,006. Set against $26,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wentworth Institute Of Technology admits about 91% of applicants.
Tufts University landed the #21 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,704. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,000. Engineering graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $78,868 early in their careers. Set against $16,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Merrimack College landed the #22 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Merrimack College generally make around $75,939. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,985 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $90,912 early in their careers. Set against $26,985 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
