
[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering-related fields students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering-related fields degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Lakeshore Technical College the best value for a degree in engineering-related fields in Wisconsin. Set in the rural area of Cleveland, Lakeshore Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,844, compared with $7,087 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $11,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Lakeshore Technical College generally make around $41,252. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,677 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $56,998. That is a strong return on a $23,677 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the best values for engineering-related fields. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Students borrow a median of $21,813 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $59,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $27,000. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $71,117. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.