2027 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong electrical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for electrical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Leading the list is Wichita State University, our #1 best value for electrical engineering in the The Plains States Region. Wichita State University is a large public school located in the city of Wichita. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $22,500 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $77,435. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $17,998. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $79,808. Set against $17,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Missouri University Of Science And Technology earned it the #3 place for electrical engineering. Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Rolla. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Students borrow a median of $24,875 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $81,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes North Dakota State University Main Campus one of the best values for electrical engineering. North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the city of Fargo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $75,212 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri St Louis came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,120, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Missouri St Louis earn a median of $78,941 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #6 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $78,101 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Kansas placed #7 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Kansas generally make around $81,330. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
Iowa State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,997 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $96,145 early in their careers. Set against $26,997 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Dakota earned the #9 position for value in electrical engineering this year. University Of North Dakota is a large public school located in the city of Grand Forks. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $78,285. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
University Of Minnesota Duluth placed #10 among the best values for electrical engineering. University Of Minnesota Duluth is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Duluth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,608, with out-of-state students paying around $20,134. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,471 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $74,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kansas State University earned the #11 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Manhattan, Kansas State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,221, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $23,105 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Kansas State University earn a median of $78,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,105 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #12 for value in electrical engineering this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $28,500. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $71,676. That is a strong return on a $28,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
South Dakota State University placed #13 among the best values for electrical engineering. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $24,989. Electrical Engineering graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $51,260 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $22,499 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $85,400 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,499 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology landed the #15 spot for electrical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,500 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,541 in student loans. Electrical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of $73,551 early in their careers. Set against $22,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology admits about 80% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis placed #16 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Washington University In St Louis generally make around $104,747. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
University Of Iowa ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,283, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,875. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $70,686. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,760. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $26,586. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $65,599. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #19 position for value in electrical engineering this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $67,043. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.