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
For return on investment in trasportation engineering, no school beat University Of Washington Seattle Campus this year. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $14,874 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $73,357. Set against $14,874 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in trasportation engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $18,750. Trasportation Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
A rank of #3 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for trasportation engineering. 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, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,866 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $64,671. Set against $23,866 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in trasportation engineering will find it at University Of Nevada Las Vegas, which ranked #4. University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a very large public school located in the city of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, compared with $27,411 for out-of-state students. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,763 in student loans. Trasportation Engineering graduates of University Of Nevada Las Vegas earn a median of $50,039 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,763 median debt. University Of Nevada Las Vegas admits about 96% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #5 place for trasportation engineering. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. 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 $75,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona landed the #6 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #7 for value in trasportation engineering this year. New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public school located in the city of Newark. In-state tuition and fees average $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,085 in student loans. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $68,288. 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 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. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $25,500. Trasportation Engineering graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $72,729 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Dakota State University Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Morgan State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Located in the city of Baltimore, Morgan State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,229, with out-of-state students paying around $19,124. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $70,667. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. 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. Students from in state pay about $13,136 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,482 for out-of-state students. Trasportation Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,503 in student loans. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $66,064. Set against $24,503 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,221, with out-of-state students paying around $28,568. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $25,250. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $51,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,760. 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 placed #13 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,954, 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value trasportation engineering schools. Rowan University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glassboro. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $67,362. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Rowan University admits about 78% of applicants.
Auburn University landed the #15 spot for trasportation engineering value this year. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,890, compared with $34,922 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,375 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $68,291. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
University Of Southern California placed #16 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,647. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $8,125. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $85,262. That is a strong return on a $8,125 median debt. University Of Southern California admits about 10% of applicants.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute placed #17 among the best values for trasportation engineering. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Troy. 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 $71,790 early in their careers. Set against $26,979 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute admits about 64% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #18 for value in trasportation engineering this year. 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. Students borrow a median of $30,197 to complete the trasportation engineering program here. Soon after graduation, trasportation engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. That is a strong return on a $30,197 median debt. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% of applicants.
New York University ranked #19 on our 2026 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. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Typical student debt for trasportation engineering graduates is $21,905. Early-career trasportation engineering graduates make about $72,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Other Trasportation Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Trasportation Engineering rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 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.
[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.
