2027 Best Value Construction Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Construction Engineering](/majors/engineering/construction-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong construction engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value construction engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Construction Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the construction engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Construction Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for construction engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the construction engineering program here. Construction Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in construction 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the construction engineering program here. Early-career construction engineering graduates make about $66,254. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Stark State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,790 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,886 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $17,349. Construction Engineering graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Purdue University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for construction engineering. Located in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, compared with $28,794 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $76,966. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in construction engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $26,774. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent landed the #6 spot for construction engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,220, while out-of-state students pay about $21,575. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $25,174. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Kent State University At Kent generally make around $44,776. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Bradley University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value construction engineering schools. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Construction Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans. Construction Engineering graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $71,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value construction engineering schools. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,912, while out-of-state students pay about $21,900. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $69,146. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #9 for value in construction 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $25,480 to complete the construction engineering program here. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $71,751. Set against $25,480 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University came in at #10 for value in construction engineering this year. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,760 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for construction engineering graduates is $27,799. Soon after graduation, construction engineering degree recipients from Lawrence Technological University generally make around $74,924. That is a strong return on a $27,799 median debt. Lawrence Technological University admits about 56% 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
