2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) 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 19 schools to find the best return on investment for general mechanical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #1 spot for value among general mechanical engineering schools in Michigan. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $87,958. Set against $23,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Oakland University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $91,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lake Superior State University earned it the #3 place for general mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,901 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $77,229. That is a strong return on a $26,901 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $92,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Flint came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Flint. In-state tuition and fees average $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $31,000. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $74,974. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Students borrow a median of $24,140 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $85,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,930, compared with $30,450 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,679 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $76,823 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,679 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Michigan Technological University earned the #8 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,532, with out-of-state students paying around $44,807. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $80,888 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Central Michigan University earned the #9 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $69,862 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #10 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,053 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $78,552. Set against $29,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #11 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Set against $28,781 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Grand Valley State University earned the #12 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Grand Valley State University is a very large public school located in the town of Allendale. Students from in state pay about $15,502 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $75,777. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #13 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,987, with out-of-state students paying around $19,952. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $31,000. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $68,260 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #14 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $80,259. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Kettering University placed #15 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. In-state tuition and fees average $46,425. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Kettering University generally make around $79,307. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Kettering University admits about 79% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University earned the #16 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,760. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $77,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings
View All General Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
