2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Ohio
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/electrical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for electrical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the electrical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Youngstown State University the best value for a degree in electrical engineering in Ohio. Youngstown State University is a large public school located in the city of Youngstown. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $74,799 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Akron Main Campus earned it the #2 place for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. 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. That is a strong return on a $27,750 median debt. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
University Of Toledo came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, while out-of-state students pay about $21,517. Students borrow a median of $21,250 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $80,876. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Ohio State University Main Campus one of the best values for electrical engineering. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $22,411. Electrical Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $91,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,411 median debt. The acceptance rate is 61%.
A rank of #5 makes Wright State University Main Campus one of the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, compared with $20,691 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 Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $79,582. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Cleveland State University earned the #6 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. 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. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Students from in state pay about $14,158 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,838 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,978 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $83,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $80,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Cedarville University placed #9 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Students borrow a median of $22,110 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $70,276. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University earned the #10 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,600. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,661 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $56,878 early in their careers. Set against $26,661 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Miami University Oxford landed the #11 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $49,700 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,177 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton came in at #12 for value in electrical engineering this year. University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dayton. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $87,094. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Case Western Reserve University earned the #13 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $23,074. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Case Western Reserve University generally make around $83,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
