2026 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
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best value for a degree in engineering & applied physics in the United States. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Murray State University earned it the #2 place for engineering & applied physics. Murray State University is a large public school located in the town of Murray. Students from in state pay about $9,900 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $19,521 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Murray State University earn a median of $58,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering & applied physics, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,136 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $64,304. Set against $20,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering & applied physics will find it at Florida Polytechnic University, which ranked #5. Florida Polytechnic University is a small public school located in the rural area of Lakeland. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $21,004. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $7,500. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Florida Polytechnic University earn a median of $64,823 early in their careers. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Platteville ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $68,379. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Augustana College Illinois placed #7 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $54,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $58,088. That is a strong return on a $22,053 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #9 spot for engineering & applied physics value this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
Delaware State University earned the #10 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Set in the city of Dover, Delaware State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,670, with out-of-state students paying around $20,634. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. 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. The acceptance rate is 47%.
University Of Colorado Boulder ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $20,373. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Biola University earned the #12 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. Students from in state pay about $48,984 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $25,308. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #13 for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $72,858 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Cornell University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
Siena College came in at #15 for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Located in the suburb of Loudonville, Siena College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,805. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $26,656 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Siena College earn a median of $44,535 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,656 median debt. Siena College admits about 69% of applicants.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earned the #16 position for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $44,074. Students borrow a median of $23,667 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $56,889. Set against $23,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University placed #17 among the best values for engineering & applied physics. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,470. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from Fordham University generally make around $59,403. That is a strong return on a $25,643 median debt. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Tulane University Of Louisiana ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,678. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $22,077. Early-career engineering & applied physics graduates make about $54,082. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Other Engineering & Applied Physics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Engineering & Applied Physics rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 142 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.
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
