2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering](/majors/engineering/aerospace-and-aeronautical-engineering/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for aerospace & aeronautical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the aerospace & aeronautical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering Schools
Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned the #1 spot for value among aerospace & aeronautical engineering schools in the The Plains States Region. 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 aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates is $22,699. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $76,183 early in their careers. Set against $22,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,869 for out-of-state students. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,250 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $75,682. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. Students borrow a median of $26,250 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $68,495 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,250 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering will find it at University Of Kansas, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, aerospace & aeronautical engineering degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $71,244. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Iowa State University earned it the #5 place for aerospace & aeronautical engineering. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,572 in student loans. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $75,036 early in their careers. Set against $26,572 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #6 position for value in aerospace & aeronautical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,553 in student loans. Early-career aerospace & aeronautical engineering graduates make about $92,802. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #7 spot for aerospace & aeronautical engineering value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $55,760. Students borrow a median of $26,421 to complete the aerospace & aeronautical engineering program here. Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering graduates of Saint Louis University Main Campus earn a median of $75,122 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
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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 · 8 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.
