2027 Best Value Trasportation Engineering Schools

[Trasportation Engineering](/majors/engineering/civil-engineering/transportation-highway-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value trasportation engineering schools.
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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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2027 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
Leading the list is University Of Washington Seattle Campus, our #1 best value for trasportation engineering in the United States. Set in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $43,209. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $14,874. 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. The acceptance rate is 39%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $66,254. Set against $18,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Purdue University Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in trasportation engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,992 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Purdue University Main Campus admits about 50% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #4 place for trasportation engineering. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,866 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $73,885. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in trasportation engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Las Vegas, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Students borrow a median of $22,763 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $50,039. That is a strong return on a $22,763 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis landed the #6 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. Students from in state pay about $19,974 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,664. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,085 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $78,994. That is a strong return on a $24,085 median debt. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
North Dakota State University Main Campus earned the #8 position for value in trasportation engineering this year. 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. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $54,076. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona placed #9 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Morgan State University landed the #10 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, while out-of-state students pay about $19,124. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $26,500. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Morgan State University earn a median of $70,667 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of Louisville came in at #11 for value in trasportation engineering this year. University Of Louisville is a very large public school located in the city of Louisville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,136, with out-of-state students paying around $29,482. Students borrow a median of $24,503 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $67,235. Set against $24,503 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Louisville admits about 79% of applicants.
Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College ranked #12 on our 2027 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,954, while out-of-state students pay about $28,631. Students borrow a median of $22,486 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $49,718. Set against $22,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College admits about 73% of applicants.
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology earned the #13 position for value in trasportation engineering this year. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,396. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $13,516. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Massachusetts Institute Of Technology generally make around $88,805. Set against $13,516 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology admits about 4% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #14 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $75,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina landed the #15 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,570, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $24,500. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earn a median of $52,909 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University placed #16 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $67,362. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Auburn University landed the #17 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,375 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. That is a strong return on a $23,375 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #18 position for value in trasportation engineering this year. Set in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $24,500. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $71,377. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Catholic University Of America came in at #19 for value in trasportation engineering this year. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Students borrow a median of $24,750 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $65,120. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
University Of Southern California placed #20 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $88,144. Set against $8,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University placed #21 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $30,197 in student loans. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $74,924 early in their careers. Set against $30,197 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #22 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Set in the city of Troy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,078. Students borrow a median of $26,979 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Trasportation Engineering graduates of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $74,035 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
New York University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,905 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $82,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University admits about 9% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 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.