2027 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering & applied physics students.
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Finding the Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics School for You
Where you study engineering & applied physics affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
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2027 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering & applied physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools in the United States. 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. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering & applied physics, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, while out-of-state students pay about $47,676. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $60,797. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering & applied physics will find it at University Of California Berkeley, which ranked #3. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Snow College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. In-state tuition and fees average $4,338, with out-of-state students paying around $14,288. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $10,440. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $20,136 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $64,304 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,136 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Murray State University earned the #6 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $19,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Murray State University generally make around $58,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Rice University landed the #7 spot for engineering & applied physics value this year. Located in the city of Houston, Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,247. Students borrow a median of $11,904 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Rice University earn a median of $75,299 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,904 median debt. Rice University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #8 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
California Institute Of Technology ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,898. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $173,344. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
Harvard University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for engineering & applied physics value this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $22,053. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $58,088. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Delaware State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,670, while out-of-state students pay about $20,634. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $31,000. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Delaware State University earn a median of $54,210 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Delaware State University admits about 47% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #13 for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $23,258. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Yale University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Yale University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Haven. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $14,357. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $74,578. That is a strong return on a $14,357 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oregon ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,320, compared with $42,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,034 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $98,640. That is a strong return on a $22,034 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #16 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $55,861 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Cornell University placed #17 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $75,976. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado School Of Mines landed the #18 spot for engineering & applied physics value this year. Located in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,914, while out-of-state students pay about $45,824. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Colorado School Of Mines generally make around $72,858. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Biola University earned the #19 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Students borrow a median of $25,308 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $45,003. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. Biola University admits about 74% of applicants.
Siena College earned the #20 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loudonville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,805. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $26,656. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $44,535. Set against $26,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Tufts University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Medford. Students from in state pay about $70,704 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,074 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Tufts University generally make around $68,154. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tufts University admits about 12% of applicants.
Tulane University Of Louisiana placed #22 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. In-state tuition and fees average $68,678. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $22,077. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Tulane University Of Louisiana earn a median of $53,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Tulane University Of Louisiana admits about 14% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Located in the city of Daytona Beach, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $23,667. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $56,889. That is a strong return on a $23,667 median debt. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach admits about 65% of applicants.
Fordham University landed the #24 spot for engineering & applied physics value this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $25,643. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
