by our College Data Analytics Team
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 32 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for engineering students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Oklahoma City Community College the best value for a degree in engineering in Oklahoma. Oklahoma City Community College is a large public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Students from in state pay about $4,059 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,810. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,750. Early-career engineering graduates make about $39,848. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tulsa Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, compared with $9,720 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,516. Early-career engineering graduates make about $41,718. Set against $16,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Meridian Technology Center earned it the #3 place for engineering. Meridian Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Stillwater. Early-career engineering graduates make about $61,765.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Gordon Cooper Technology Center, which ranked #4. Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Shawnee. Early-career engineering graduates make about $44,822.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Metro Technology Centers, which ranked #5. Metro Technology Centers is a small public school located in the city of Oklahoma City. Students borrow a median of $15,833 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Metro Technology Centers earn a median of $48,236 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
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Rose State College earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Midwest City, Rose State College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,030, with out-of-state students paying around $11,407. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $13,451. Early-career engineering graduates make about $50,860. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Technology Center System Office landed the #7 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the town of Pryor, Northeast Technology Center System Office is a small public institution. Engineering graduates of Northeast Technology Center System Office earn a median of $35,262 early in their careers.
Canadian Valley Technology Center placed #8 among the best values for engineering. Set in the rural area of El Reno, Canadian Valley Technology Center is a mid-sized public institution. Engineering graduates of Canadian Valley Technology Center earn a median of $46,777 early in their careers.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #9 for value in engineering this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Students borrow a median of $22,688 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma State University Main Campus generally make around $72,502. Set against $22,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oklahoma State University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Red River Technology Center came in at #10 for value in engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Duncan, Red River Technology Center is a small public university. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,029.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #11 for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Norman, University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,377 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,066 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $69,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Central Oklahoma earned the #12 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $69,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Oklahoma Christian University came in at #13 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Edmond, Oklahoma Christian University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,180. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $65,764. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oklahoma Christian University admits about 96% of applicants.
Oral Roberts University earned the #14 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $35,470. Students borrow a median of $26,917 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Oral Roberts University generally make around $66,805. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oral Roberts University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Tulsa came in at #15 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, University Of Tulsa is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,546. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $64,360. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.