2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general mechanical engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools
For return on investment in general mechanical engineering, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Green Bay this year. Set in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $24,477. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $42,853. Set against $24,477 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned it the #2 place for general mechanical engineering. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $71,612. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $81,716 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee earned it the #4 place for general mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $70,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. In-state tuition and fees average $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering placed #6 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,480. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,976. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Marquette University came in at #7 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,602 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
