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2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #1 spot for value among mechanical engineering schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,800. Students borrow a median of $17,613 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Brigham Young University Idaho generally make around $68,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at Utah Valley University, which ranked #2. Utah Valley University is a very large public school located in the city of Orem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $16,478. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weber State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Ogden, Weber State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,557, with out-of-state students paying around $17,545. Students borrow a median of $19,176 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $53,920. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Utah University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the town of Cedar City, Southern Utah University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,962, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,886 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $44,998. That is a strong return on a $12,886 median debt. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
Utah State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Logan, Utah State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,560, while out-of-state students pay about $24,993. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,654 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Utah State University generally make around $75,601. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of Wyoming ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,768 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $22,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Wyoming earn a median of $57,153 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Utah earned the #7 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $22,400. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $81,523 early in their careers. Set against $22,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #8 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,688. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $10,500. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $76,065. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Idaho earned the #9 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,084, with out-of-state students paying around $28,320. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of $65,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Dixie State College Of Utah landed the #10 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Saint George, Dixie State College Of Utah is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,306 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,246 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,666 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $42,266. That is a strong return on a $18,666 median debt.
Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana earned the #11 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the town of Butte, Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, while out-of-state students pay about $26,094. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,901. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs came in at #12 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,906, compared with $25,039 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $70,440. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Denver placed #13 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Colorado Denver is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,907 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Colorado Denver generally make around $70,763. Set against $30,907 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Idaho State University placed #14 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, compared with $27,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $31,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $66,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Boise State University came in at #15 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Boise State University is a very large public school located in the city of Boise. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,048, compared with $27,788 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,833. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $62,835. Set against $24,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #16 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,373 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $77,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
Montana State University came in at #17 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, with out-of-state students paying around $33,287. Students borrow a median of $25,011 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $68,469. That is a strong return on a $25,011 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $75,355 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #19 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. In-state tuition and fees average $21,914, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $81,619 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Denver placed #20 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,398. Students borrow a median of $26,248 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $65,014 early in their careers. Set against $26,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Mechanical Engineering Schools by State
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-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.
