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2026 Best Value Structural Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in structural engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Structural Engineering Schools
California State University Northridge tops our 2026 list of the best value structural engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,732 to complete the structural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $62,768. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes California State Polytechnic University Pomona one of the best values for structural engineering. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $49,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California San Diego one of the best values for structural engineering. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $65,478. That is a strong return on a $16,400 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in structural engineering will find it at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,374 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $69,321 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,374 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in structural engineering will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #5. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $23,866. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $64,671. Set against $23,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of California Los Angeles placed #6 among the best values for structural engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $19,444. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $75,510. Set against $19,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Texas A And M University Kingsville landed the #7 spot for structural engineering value this year. Set in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,892 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,746 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $24,625. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $44,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University Kingsville admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #8 for value in structural engineering this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $67,764. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology came in at #9 for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the structural engineering program here. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $70,664. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #10 spot for structural engineering value this year. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,424 in student loans. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $60,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
San Diego State University came in at #11 for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,832 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,832 median debt. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value structural engineering schools. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $26,000. Structural Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $70,928 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #13 for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $24,085. Structural Engineering graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,549 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #14 position for value in structural engineering this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $70,346. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of South Alabama came in at #15 for value in structural engineering this year. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. Students from in state pay about $10,116 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $51,592. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Louisville placed #16 among the best values for structural engineering. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. In-state tuition and fees average $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,503 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $66,064 early in their careers. Set against $24,503 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #17 position for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Students borrow a median of $23,545 to complete the structural engineering program here. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $68,031. Set against $23,545 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
University Of Maine landed the #18 spot for structural engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Western Michigan University came in at #19 for value in structural engineering this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $29,156. Soon after graduation, structural engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $69,706. Set against $29,156 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology landed the #20 spot for structural engineering value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the structural engineering program here. Structural Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $71,760 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
University At Buffalo ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value structural engineering schools. University At Buffalo is a very large public school located in the suburb of Buffalo. Students from in state pay about $10,936 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,536. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $22,913. Structural Engineering graduates of University At Buffalo earn a median of $52,403 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,913 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg placed #22 among the best values for structural engineering. Located in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Auburn University earned the #23 position for value in structural engineering this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $23,375. Structural Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $55,422 early in their careers. Set against $23,375 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Southern California earned the #24 position for value in structural engineering this year. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for structural engineering graduates is $8,125. Early-career structural engineering graduates make about $85,262. Set against $8,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 10%.
Lehigh University placed #25 among the best values for structural engineering. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Structural Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Structural Engineering graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $73,545 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Structural Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s structural engineering value ranking:
Other Structural Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Structural Engineering rankings across degree levels: