[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 1312 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering students.
For return on investment in engineering, no school beat Cuny City College this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $15,925 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $73,727. That is a strong return on a $15,925 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at California State University Los Angeles, which ranked #2. California State University Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. In-state tuition and fees average $7,164, while out-of-state students pay about $19,764. Students borrow a median of $17,423 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $70,886. That is a strong return on a $17,423 median debt. California State University Los Angeles admits about 91% of applicants.
California State University Fullerton came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Students borrow a median of $15,125 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $66,185 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Fullerton admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Florida one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,748 in student loans. Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $78,565 early in their careers. Set against $20,748 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes United States Merchant Marine Academy one of the best values for engineering. United States Merchant Marine Academy is a small public school located in the suburb of Kings Point. Students from in state pay about $895 in tuition and fees. Early-career engineering graduates make about $69,847. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fresno came in at #6 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,341, while out-of-state students pay about $19,941. Students borrow a median of $21,289 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $70,146 early in their careers. Set against $21,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas A And M International University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,454. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,243. Early-career engineering graduates make about $49,755. Set against $10,243 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted.
California State University San Bernardino ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,088, compared with $20,688 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,096 in student loans. Engineering graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $49,043 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
California State University Northridge came in at #9 for value in engineering this year. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $18,559 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $66,922 early in their careers. Set against $18,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #10 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,490 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,440. Students borrow a median of $14,688 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $61,240. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
California State University Bakersfield placed #11 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, with out-of-state students paying around $20,687. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Snow College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,440. Early-career engineering graduates make about $42,776. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Brigham Young University Idaho earned the #13 position for value in engineering this year. Brigham Young University Idaho is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Rexburg. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800. Students borrow a median of $14,103 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of $73,040 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
New Mexico State University Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in engineering this year. New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, while out-of-state students pay about $25,307. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,301. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $65,112. That is a strong return on a $17,301 median debt. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
California State University Long Beach placed #15 among the best values for engineering. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,822. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $72,423. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Daytona State College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Daytona State College is a large public school located in the city of Daytona Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,227 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Daytona State College generally make around $43,320. That is a strong return on a $14,227 median debt.
Murray State University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Students borrow a median of $19,521 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $58,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Murray State University admits about 86% of applicants.
College Of The Ozarks earned the #18 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. Engineering graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,944 early in their careers. College Of The Ozarks admits about 12% of applicants.
The University Of Texas Pan American landed the #19 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,150 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $53,682. That is a strong return on a $14,150 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Florida International University came in at #20 for value in engineering this year. Florida International University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,347 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $69,494 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,347 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Utah Valley University placed #21 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,507, compared with $18,489 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,563 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $85,407. That is a strong return on a $14,563 median debt.
Western Governors University earned the #22 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Salt Lake City, Western Governors University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $8,658 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,277 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Western Governors University earn a median of $74,771 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,277 median debt.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology came in at #23 for value in engineering this year. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Socorro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,476, while out-of-state students pay about $27,247. Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,007 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $68,604. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Princeton University placed #24 among the best values for engineering. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $95,253. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Sacramento placed #25 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,018, with out-of-state students paying around $20,618. Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,768 in student loans. Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $71,262 early in their careers. Set against $18,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering value ranking:
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 · 1312 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 344 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).
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
