2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Engineering & Applied Physics](/majors/engineering/engineering-physics/engineering-applied-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 32 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value engineering & applied physics schools.
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2026 Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering & applied physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering & Applied Physics Schools
For return on investment in engineering & applied physics, no school beat University Of Michigan Ann Arbor this year. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for engineering & applied physics graduates is $19,137. Soon after graduation, engineering & applied physics degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $20,136 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
A rank of #3 makes Lansing Community College one of the best values for engineering & applied physics. Located in the city of Lansing, Lansing Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,100, while out-of-state students pay about $11,300. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $16,700 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Lansing Community College earn a median of $46,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Platteville earned it the #4 place for engineering & applied physics. Located in the town of Platteville, University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,644, compared with $17,603 for out-of-state students. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Platteville earn a median of $68,379 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering & applied physics schools. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the engineering & applied physics program here. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $54,165 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in engineering & applied physics this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates carry a median of $22,053 in student loans. Engineering & Applied Physics graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Set against $22,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
