2027 Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies Schools
[Applied Engineering Technologies](/majors/engineering-technologies/general-engineering-technology/applied-engineering-technologies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 7 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for applied engineering technologies students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies School for You
The right applied engineering technologies school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Read more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2027 Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied engineering technologies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Engineering Technologies Schools
Leading the list is Johnston Community College, our #1 best value for applied engineering technologies in the United States. Set in the town of Smithfield, Johnston Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,756 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,900. Students borrow a median of $9,490 to complete the applied engineering technologies program here. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates of Johnston Community College earn a median of $37,472 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in applied engineering technologies will find it at Wilkes Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Wilkesboro, Wilkes Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,572, with out-of-state students paying around $8,716. Typical student debt for applied engineering technologies graduates is $9,125. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates of Wilkes Community College earn a median of $36,341 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Utah University one of the best values for applied engineering technologies. Southern Utah University is a very large public school located in the town of Cedar City. Students from in state pay about $6,962 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,192 for out-of-state students. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $8,000 in student loans. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates of Southern Utah University earn a median of $43,320 early in their careers. Set against $8,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Utah University admits about 82% of applicants.
Rogers State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in applied engineering technologies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Claremore, Rogers State University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,750, compared with $16,410 for out-of-state students. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $22,936 in student loans. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates of Rogers State University earn a median of $45,644 early in their careers. Set against $22,936 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes Sam Houston State University one of the best values for applied engineering technologies. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates carry a median of $24,850 in student loans. Applied Engineering Technologies graduates of Sam Houston State University earn a median of $46,365 early in their careers. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best values for applied engineering technologies. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, compared with $37,664 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the applied engineering technologies program here. Soon after graduation, applied engineering technologies degree recipients from New Jersey Institute Of Technology generally make around $64,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #7 among the best values for applied engineering technologies. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Typical student debt for applied engineering technologies graduates is $23,529. Early-career applied engineering technologies graduates make about $89,327. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Narrow Applied Engineering Technologies Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Applied Engineering Technologies. See all related rankings.
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
