2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in Kansas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Wichita State University earned the #1 spot for value among engineering schools in Kansas. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,684, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $24,399. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $71,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Butler Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,670. Early-career engineering graduates make about $39,404. Set against $16,670 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at University Of Kansas, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $24,110. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $74,135. Set against $24,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Kansas State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,859 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $73,393. That is a strong return on a $24,859 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #5 makes Benedictine College one of the best values for engineering. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,350. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $71,539 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
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 · 15 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/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
