[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for engineering-related fields students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering-related fields degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Lamar University, our #1 best value for engineering-related fields in the Southwest Region. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $26,988 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $52,678 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #2. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $14,694. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Rice University earned it the #3 place for engineering-related fields. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $11,904 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $75,299. Set against $11,904 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Arlington earned it the #4 place for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Arlington, The University Of Texas At Arlington is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,950 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,582. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,632. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of The University Of Texas At Arlington earn a median of $55,304 early in their careers. Set against $21,632 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering-related fields will find it at University Of Houston, which ranked #5. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $57,529 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,255 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At Tyler placed #6 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, while out-of-state students pay about $24,512. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $20,959 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $75,371. Set against $20,959 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Arizona State University landed the #7 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $76,149. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Houston Clear Lake landed the #8 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,100. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $51,252. That is a strong return on a $21,100 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of North Texas came in at #9 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, while out-of-state students pay about $21,149. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $21,817. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $49,157. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Arizona landed the #10 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $24,777 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $75,109. Set against $24,777 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Texas State University San Marcos placed #11 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public school located in the city of San Marcos. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $23,659. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $47,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #12 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,688 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete the engineering-related fields program here. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $57,819 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #13 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $20,031 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $120,911. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University landed the #14 spot for engineering-related fields value this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Southern Methodist University earn a median of $111,319 early in their careers. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Narrow Engineering-Related Fields Schools by State
More Engineering-Related Fields Rankings
View All Engineering-Related Fields Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
