by our College Data Analytics Team
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 64 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
College Of The Ozarks tops our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. General Engineering graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,944 early in their careers. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
Ozarks Technical Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $15,866. General Engineering graduates of Ozarks Technical Community College earn a median of $36,644 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Moberly Area Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Located in the town of Moberly, Moberly Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,110, while out-of-state students pay about $8,640. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,507. General Engineering graduates of Moberly Area Community College earn a median of $44,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Metropolitan Community College Kansas City came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,281. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $46,660. Set against $12,281 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jefferson College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Jefferson College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Hillsboro. Students from in state pay about $5,250 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,850 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,664 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Jefferson College generally make around $47,560. That is a strong return on a $13,664 median debt.
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Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College landed the #6 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,022 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College generally make around $44,387. That is a strong return on a $17,029 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College placed #7 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,790, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,956. General Engineering graduates of Des Moines Area Community College earn a median of $43,121 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Century College placed #8 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of White Bear Lake, Century College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,214. Students borrow a median of $15,583 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. Set against $15,583 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Anoka Ramsey Community College landed the #9 spot for general engineering value this year. Anoka Ramsey Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Coon Rapids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,682. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,593 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $44,293. Set against $22,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the rural area of Fergus Falls, Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,908. Students borrow a median of $18,197 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Minnesota State Community And Technical College earn a median of $42,972 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,197 median debt.
Normandale Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Normandale Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,329 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,162 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $53,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Central College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Union, East Central College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,272, compared with $7,680 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,062 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,925. Set against $12,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #13 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,434 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Nebraska Lincoln generally make around $109,909. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
Butler Community College placed #14 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,541, with out-of-state students paying around $6,271. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,670 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,572, while out-of-state students pay about $18,942. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,627. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $68,044. Set against $27,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Cornell College earned the #16 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,660. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Cornell College generally make around $35,545. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #17 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,920. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,505 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $68,516. Set against $23,505 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Saint Louis, Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Saint Louis University Main Campus generally make around $67,482. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Doane College Crete ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crete. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,985. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,802 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $53,500. That is a strong return on a $28,802 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 64 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.