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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
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2026 Best Value Engineering Mechanics Schools in Illinois

1 Colleges in the United States
$20,778 Avg Student Debt
$81,054 Avg Median Earnings (10yr)
2026 Best Value Engineering Mechanics Badge [Engineering Mechanics](/majors/engineering/engineering-mechanics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering mechanics students.

What’s on this page:

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2026 Best Value Engineering Mechanics Schools in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering mechanics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Engineering Mechanics Schools

1

For return on investment in engineering mechanics, no school beat University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Engineering Mechanics graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering mechanics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.

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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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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