2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #1 spot for value among electrical engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Students from in state pay about $15,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,853 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $94,217. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #2. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $94,316. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $83,287. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Hammond, Purdue University Northwest is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, compared with $15,504 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,471 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Purdue University Northwest earn a median of $79,917 early in their careers. Set against $26,471 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $18,667. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $99,147. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis landed the #6 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,603 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earn a median of $80,726 early in their careers. Set against $25,603 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Indiana placed #7 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the suburb of Evansville, University Of Southern Indiana is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,066 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,907 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,999 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $47,216. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University landed the #8 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $26,000. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $92,644. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $74,442. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #10 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $99,772. Set against $21,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne landed the #11 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,532, while out-of-state students pay about $22,887. Students borrow a median of $17,550 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne generally make around $67,236. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne admits about 84% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #12 for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,113 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $79,617 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Youngstown State University earned the #13 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,286. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Youngstown State University generally make around $74,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned the #14 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,603. Students borrow a median of $23,251 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $77,405. Set against $23,251 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Wisconsin Platteville admits about 89% of applicants.
Wayne State University placed #15 among the best values for electrical engineering. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,350. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $78,738. Set against $25,350 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Saginaw Valley State University came in at #16 for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,930 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Students borrow a median of $28,091 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $78,950 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,091 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan Technological University came in at #17 for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $79,439 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #18 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, compared with $20,815 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $77,622. Set against $27,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $94,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $22,411. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $91,500. That is a strong return on a $22,411 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Cleveland State University placed #21 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Cleveland State University earn a median of $81,541 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus earned the #22 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $20,691. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $79,582. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Toledo placed #23 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $80,876. That is a strong return on a $21,250 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Central Michigan University earned the #24 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $30,000 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $71,457. That is a strong return on a $30,000 median debt. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #25 for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $68,670. That is a strong return on a $19,750 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 46 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s electrical engineering value ranking:
Narrow Electrical Engineering Schools by State
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 · 70 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 48 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.
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/electrical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
