[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering-related fields education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering-related fields students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering-related fields, balancing cost against outcomes.
Gannon University tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,656 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $26,934 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $73,658. Set against $26,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gannon University admits about 74% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at Robert Morris University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Moon Township, Robert Morris University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,770. Students borrow a median of $26,748 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Robert Morris University earn a median of $58,900 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,748 median debt. Robert Morris University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Pennsylvania Western University one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $45,448. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $16,155. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $99,682. That is a strong return on a $16,155 median debt. University Of Pennsylvania admits about 5% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Carnegie Mellon University one of the best values for engineering-related fields. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. In-state tuition and fees average $65,636. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Carnegie Mellon University earn a median of $89,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Drexel University came in at #6 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $28,838 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $101,570. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
