[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong electrical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 464 schools to find the best return on investment for electrical engineering students.
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in electrical engineering in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $21,544. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $85,243 early in their careers. Set against $21,544 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny City College earned it the #2 place for electrical engineering. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,340, compared with $15,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,563 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $78,172. Set against $13,563 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at California State University Fullerton, which ranked #3. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $20,070 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,054 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $63,468. That is a strong return on a $15,054 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, compared with $20,058 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,440 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $75,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #5 makes California State University Los Angeles one of the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $14,676. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $63,981. That is a strong return on a $14,676 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach placed #6 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $77,278. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Long Beach admits about 46% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento landed the #7 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,430 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $74,450 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Sacramento admits about 94% of applicants.
Princeton University landed the #8 spot for electrical engineering value 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. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
New Mexico State University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $82,790. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Florida International University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Florida International University generally make around $71,447. That is a strong return on a $19,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Socorro. Students from in state pay about $9,476 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,247. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,981 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology earn a median of $73,300 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,981 median debt. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego earned the #12 position for value in electrical engineering this year. 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, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,342 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $80,687 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,342 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Stanford University landed the #13 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $159,472. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stanford University admits about 4% of applicants.
California State University Fresno came in at #14 for value in electrical engineering this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,875. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $59,672 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Washington Tacoma Campus ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Tacoma. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,168, while out-of-state students pay about $43,404. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $15,000. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus generally make around $81,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
California State University San Marcos ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of San Marcos, California State University San Marcos is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,082, with out-of-state students paying around $20,682. Students borrow a median of $17,527 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of California State University San Marcos earn a median of $48,726 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Bothell Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Bothell, University Of Washington Bothell Campus is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,919, compared with $43,155 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Bothell Campus earn a median of $81,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Washington Bothell Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #18 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,490, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Cuny College Of Staten Island generally make around $66,506. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Idaho placed #19 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,800. Students borrow a median of $13,884 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $70,563. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Utah Valley University came in at #20 for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. That is a strong return on a $16,478 median debt.
Rice University landed the #21 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Rice University generally make around $96,751. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $21,853. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $78,942. Set against $21,853 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #23 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $78,825. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #24 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $22,250. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $76,520. That is a strong return on a $22,250 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona landed the #25 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, compared with $20,381 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,812 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $80,827. Set against $18,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State Polytechnic University Pomona admits about 75% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s electrical engineering value ranking:
This list is compiled 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 · 464 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 272 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).
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong electrical engineering education at a price that pays off.
