Finding the Best Value Trasportation Engineering School for You
The trasportation engineering program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we developed our Best Value Trasportation Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
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2026 Best Value Trasportation Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in trasportation engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Trasportation Engineering Schools
University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned the #1 spot for value among trasportation engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Students borrow a median of $14,874 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $80,410 early in their careers. Set against $14,874 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #2 place for trasportation engineering. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,750 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in trasportation engineering will find it at Florida Atlantic University, which ranked #3. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $23,866. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $73,885 early in their careers. Set against $23,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in trasportation engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $27,411. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $22,763. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Nevada Las Vegas generally make around $50,039. That is a strong return on a $22,763 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in trasportation engineering will find it at University Of California Davis, which ranked #5. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,101 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $81,037. Set against $16,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona landed the #6 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $50,834. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,085 in student loans. Trasportation Engineering graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $78,994 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,085 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #8 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Located in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,910, compared with $15,564 for out-of-state students. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $72,729. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Morgan State University placed #9 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,229, compared with $19,124 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Morgan State University generally make around $70,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Louisville landed the #10 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,503 in student loans. Trasportation Engineering graduates of University Of Louisville earn a median of $67,235 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,503 median debt. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Kansas State University placed #11 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,221, compared with $28,568 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology came in at #12 for value in trasportation engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $62,396 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $13,516 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earn a median of $88,805 early in their careers. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #13 position for value in trasportation engineering this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Illinois Institute Of Technology earn a median of $75,829 early in their careers. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,954 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,631. Students borrow a median of $22,486 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College earn a median of $49,718 early in their careers. Set against $22,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University came in at #15 for value in trasportation engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $67,362 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Auburn University landed the #16 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $23,375. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Auburn University earn a median of $68,291 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Southern California landed the #17 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $8,125 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $88,144 early in their careers. Set against $8,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Catholic University Of America ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $24,750. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Set against $24,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. Students from in state pay about $64,078 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,979 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $74,035. That is a strong return on a $26,979 median debt. The acceptance rate is 64%.
Lawrence Technological University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,760. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,197 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
[Trasportation Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/transportation-highway-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong trasportation engineering education at a price that pays off.
