2026 Best Value Computer Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in computer engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Computer Engineering Schools
For return on investment in computer engineering, no school beat Missouri University Of Science And Technology this year. 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, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $78,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value computer engineering schools. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $106,498. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value computer engineering schools. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $21,511. Computer Engineering graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $76,558 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,511 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in computer engineering will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $77,792. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Wichita State University one of the best values for computer engineering. Set in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,684, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $27,500. Computer Engineering graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $66,207 early in their careers. Set against $27,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Kansas came in at #6 for value in computer engineering this year. Located in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $23,608. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $56,289. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln came in at #7 for value in computer engineering this year. Located in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,240 to complete the computer engineering program here. Computer Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $82,398 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,240 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Iowa State University placed #8 among the best values for computer engineering. Set in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,337 in student loans. Computer Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $79,182 early in their careers. Set against $24,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
Kansas State University earned the #9 position for value in computer engineering this year. Set in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,766 to complete the computer engineering program here. Soon after graduation, computer engineering degree recipients from Kansas State University generally make around $77,938. Set against $25,766 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #10 for value in computer engineering this year. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the computer engineering program here. Computer Engineering graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $83,243 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rasmussen College Minnesota landed the #11 spot for computer engineering value this year. Located in the city of St. Cloud, Rasmussen College Minnesota is a large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,199. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $23,635. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $48,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Iowa came in at #12 for value in computer engineering this year. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $79,228. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value computer engineering schools. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Computer Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,668 in student loans. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $72,639. That is a strong return on a $26,668 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Drury University landed the #14 spot for computer engineering value this year. Drury University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $36,745 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,641 to complete the computer engineering program here. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $37,267. That is a strong return on a $26,641 median debt. Drury University admits about 58% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value computer engineering schools. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for computer engineering graduates is $17,553. Early-career computer engineering graduates make about $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
[Computer Engineering](/majors/engineering/ce-computer-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
