2026 Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[General Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/general-materials-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for general materials engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general materials engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Materials Engineering Schools
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 list of the best value general materials engineering schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the general materials engineering program here. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $60,445. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general materials engineering will find it at Winona State University, which ranked #2. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. In-state tuition and fees average $10,576, while out-of-state students pay about $17,308. Typical student debt for general materials engineering graduates is $22,000. Soon after graduation, general materials engineering degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $72,944. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #3 place for general materials engineering. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,125 to complete the general materials engineering program here. Early-career general materials engineering graduates make about $65,831. That is a strong return on a $23,125 median debt. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Washington University In St Louis one of the best values for general materials engineering. Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of St. Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the general materials engineering program here. General Materials Engineering graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Washington University In St Louis admits about 12% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
