[Engineering-Related Fields](/majors/engineering-technologies/engineering-related-fields/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 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.
For return on investment in engineering-related fields, no school beat Harvard University this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at University Of Massachusetts Lowell, which ranked #2. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $25,574 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Lowell generally make around $105,490. Set against $25,574 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $101,532. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,884 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Massachusetts Maritime Academy generally make around $105,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Maritime Academy admits about 95% of applicants.
Western New England University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,820. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,520 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Western New England University earn a median of $64,056 early in their careers. Set against $25,520 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western New England University admits about 84% of applicants.
Tufts University landed the #6 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,704. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $17,074. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $123,639. That is a strong return on a $17,074 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute came in at #7 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Worcester, Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $60,765. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Worcester Polytechnic Institute generally make around $91,834. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Worcester Polytechnic Institute admits about 60% of applicants.
More Engineering-Related Fields Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
