by our College Data Analytics Team
[Other Engineering](/majors/engineering/other-engineering/engineering-other/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong other engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 149 schools to find the best return on investment for other engineering students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the other engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Stanford University, our #1 best value for other engineering in the United States. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $49,741. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $56,522 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $74,668. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana Tech University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in other engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Ruston, Louisiana Tech University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,125, compared with $16,866 for out-of-state students. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,846 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $49,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned it the #5 place for other engineering. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $69,685 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #6 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,809 in tuition and fees, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of Maryland College Park generally make around $80,931. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Pueblo landed the #7 spot for other engineering value this year. Set in the city of Pueblo, Colorado State University Pueblo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,944. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $31,000. Other Engineering graduates of Colorado State University Pueblo earn a median of $76,059 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
California State University Chico earned the #8 position for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,472, compared with $21,072 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the other engineering program here. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from California State University Chico generally make around $74,204. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Chico admits about 93% of applicants.
Mississippi State University earned the #9 position for value in other engineering this year. Mississippi State University is a very large public school located in the town of Mississippi State. In-state tuition and fees average $10,202, with out-of-state students paying around $27,637. Students borrow a median of $19,469 to complete the other engineering program here. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $68,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #10 for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $78,734. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Set in the city of Wilmington, University Of North Carolina At Wilmington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,277 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,152. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,013 in student loans. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Wilmington generally make around $46,164. That is a strong return on a $23,013 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Oregon State University came in at #12 for value in other engineering this year. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $71,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Michigan State University came in at #13 for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $22,875 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $67,007 early in their careers. Set against $22,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Ohio University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in other engineering this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Students borrow a median of $24,546 to complete the other engineering program here. Soon after graduation, other engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $49,736. That is a strong return on a $24,546 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #15 for value in other engineering this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $43,654. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Pennsylvania placed #16 among the best values for other engineering. Set in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $68,686 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $16,155. Other Engineering graduates of University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $99,682 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $66,162. Students borrow a median of $22,512 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of Northeastern University earn a median of $75,253 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,512 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in other engineering this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Lafayette College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value other engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,648. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,931 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of Lafayette College earn a median of $59,513 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 31%.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Other Engineering rankings across degree levels:
This ranking is produced 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 · 149 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.