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2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Dakota
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is South Dakota State University, our #1 best value for general mechanical engineering in South Dakota. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. In-state tuition and fees average $9,299, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $67,791 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,500, with out-of-state students paying around $14,900. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology generally make around $69,667. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
