[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 544 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering students.
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Finding the Best Value General Engineering School for You
Where you study general engineering affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value General Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value General Engineering Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
Leading the list is City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College, our #1 best value for general engineering in the United States. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,093. General Engineering graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,093 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Lewis And Clark Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Lewis And Clark Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Godfrey. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,340, while out-of-state students pay about $7,840. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,602 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,313. Set against $9,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, compared with $6,504 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. Set against $17,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Essex County College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,415, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $37,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Harper College one of the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, compared with $11,874 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
College Of Dupage ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,500. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,025. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Amarillo College earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,136, compared with $4,704 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. Set against $15,720 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earned the #8 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
John Tyler Community College came in at #9 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Queensborough Community College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,210 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,052 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. Set against $10,052 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County came in at #11 for value in general engineering this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. Students from in state pay about $4,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,785 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $50,314. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College placed #12 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,170 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,050 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,794 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $30,518. Set against $8,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Copiah Lincoln Community College placed #13 among the best values for general engineering. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. In-state tuition and fees average $4,200, compared with $5,200 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $31,241.
South Texas College placed #14 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. Students borrow a median of $6,868 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Schoolcraft College came in at #15 for value in general engineering this year. Schoolcraft College is a large public school located in the city of Livonia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,799, with out-of-state students paying around $6,501. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,949 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Schoolcraft College earn a median of $46,283 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,949 median debt.
Montgomery College placed #16 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Montgomery College earn a median of $24,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,192. General Engineering graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,006, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,185 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Monroe Community College earn a median of $38,757 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Western Community College earned the #19 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Students borrow a median of $13,715 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Snow College placed #20 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,440 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #21 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,698. General Engineering graduates of Lord Fairfax Community College earn a median of $37,531 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College placed #22 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Troy, Hudson Valley Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,796, while out-of-state students pay about $11,852. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,000. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #23 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $15,375. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $43,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Itawamba Community College placed #24 among the best values for general engineering. Itawamba Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fulton. Students from in state pay about $3,420 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,820. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,942. General Engineering graduates of Itawamba Community College earn a median of $40,832 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California State University Bakersfield landed the #25 spot for general engineering value this year. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Students from in state pay about $8,087 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,687 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. California State University Bakersfield admits about 94% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general engineering value ranking:
General Engineering is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
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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 · 544 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 112 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).
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
