[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 11 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.
Wichita State University tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools in the The Plains States Region. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $24,262 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $49,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #2 place for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $25,076. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Pittsburg State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering-related fields, landing the #3 spot this year. Pittsburg State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pittsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400, while out-of-state students pay about $19,744. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $22,669. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Pittsburg State University earn a median of $50,003 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Southeast Missouri State University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering-related fields schools. Southeast Missouri State University is a large public school located in the city of Cape Girardeau. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,903. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $43,255. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #5 place for engineering-related fields. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. Students from in state pay about $14,984 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $28,000. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $80,681. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Missouri State University Springfield earned the #6 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,408. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $84,866 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Kansas earned the #7 position for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $23,608 in student loans. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of University Of Kansas earn a median of $122,538 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Iowa State University came in at #8 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Engineering-Related Fields graduates carry a median of $25,236 in student loans. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $62,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
South Dakota State University placed #9 among the best values for engineering-related fields. South Dakota State University is a large public school located in the town of Brookings. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $24,989. Engineering-Related Fields graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Set against $24,989 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology placed #10 among the best values for engineering-related fields. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, with out-of-state students paying around $14,900. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $26,668. Soon after graduation, engineering-related fields degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology generally make around $91,138. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #11 for value in engineering-related fields this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Typical student debt for engineering-related fields graduates is $23,923. Early-career engineering-related fields graduates make about $65,183. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
