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2026 Best Value General Engineering Science Schools in the Southwest Region

[General Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/general-engineering-science/) 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.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering science students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Engineering Science Schools in the Southwest Region

2026 Best Value General Engineering Science Schools in the Southwest Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering science degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Engineering Science Schools

1

Houston Community College
Houston, TX

$2,040 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,814 Avg Student Debt

$39,254 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Houston Community College, our #1 best value for general engineering science in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,040, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for general engineering science graduates is $17,814. Soon after graduation, general engineering science degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $61,518. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.

2

Trinity University
San Antonio, TX

$53,676 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,249 Avg Student Debt

$71,668 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in general engineering science will find it at Trinity University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Typical student debt for general engineering science graduates is $21,249. Soon after graduation, general engineering science degree recipients from Trinity University generally make around $74,063. That is a strong return on a $21,249 median debt. Trinity University admits about 26% of applicants.

View All General Engineering Science Rankings >

Notes and References

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 · 9 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.