2026 Best Value Computer Hardware Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Computer Hardware Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/computer-hardware-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for computer hardware engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Computer Hardware Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer hardware engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Computer Hardware Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Utah Valley University the best value for a degree in computer hardware engineering in the United States. Located in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,507, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Students borrow a median of $14,563 to complete the computer hardware engineering program here. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates of Utah Valley University earn a median of $51,242 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California San Diego earned it the #2 place for computer hardware engineering. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer hardware engineering graduates is $18,497. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $96,256 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Oakland University one of the best values for computer hardware engineering. Oakland University is a large public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,125 in student loans. Early-career computer hardware engineering graduates make about $78,709. Set against $26,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #4 makes Illinois Institute Of Technology one of the best values for computer hardware engineering. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $81,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned it the #5 place for computer hardware engineering. Set in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical student debt for computer hardware engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career computer hardware engineering graduates make about $53,543. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Villanova University landed the #6 spot for computer hardware engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,776 in tuition and fees. Computer Hardware Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career computer hardware engineering graduates make about $94,228. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
Santa Clara University landed the #7 spot for computer hardware engineering value this year. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,293. Students borrow a median of $24,666 to complete the computer hardware engineering program here. Soon after graduation, computer hardware engineering degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $103,804. That is a strong return on a $24,666 median debt. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Other Computer Hardware Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value computer hardware engineering schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 10 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.
