2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Science Schools
For return on investment in engineering science, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, while out-of-state students pay about $47,265. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $14,238. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $70,847. That is a strong return on a $14,238 median debt. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $19,273 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $61,010 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Coastal Carolina University earned it the #3 place for engineering science. Coastal Carolina University is a large public school located in the city of Conway. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, compared with $29,628 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $27,174. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $38,272. Set against $27,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $81,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Wartburg College earned the #6 position for value in engineering science this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,250. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $26,793 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. Set against $26,793 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick came in at #7 for value in engineering science this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $69,336. Set against $24,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Rutgers University New Brunswick admits about 58% of applicants.
Sweet Briar College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sweet Briar. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $26,160. Median earnings reach $51,943 ten years out. Sweet Briar College admits about 76% of applicants.
Trinity University earned the #9 position for value in engineering science this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,676. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $21,249. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Trinity University generally make around $74,063. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College earned the #10 position for value in engineering science this year. Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Northampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,178. Students borrow a median of $18,941 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $40,436. That is a strong return on a $18,941 median debt. Smith College admits about 21% of applicants.
Yale University landed the #11 spot for engineering science value this year. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $14,357. Engineering Science graduates of Yale University earn a median of $73,378 early in their careers. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College earned the #12 position for value in engineering science this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,019. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $17,083. Engineering Science graduates of Dartmouth College earn a median of $89,929 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #13 among the best values for engineering science. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Other Engineering Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value engineering science schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 100 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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 Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
