2027 Best Value Engineering Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering science students.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Science Schools
Our analysis ranked Vanderbilt University the best value for a degree in engineering science in the United States. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $81,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at Coastal Carolina University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Students borrow a median of $27,174 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $38,272. That is a strong return on a $27,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #3. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $61,010. That is a strong return on a $19,273 median debt. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Mexico Main Campus earned it the #4 place for engineering science. Set in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Students borrow a median of $19,738 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $64,405. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at Sweet Briar College, which ranked #5. Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Sweet Briar. Students from in state pay about $26,160 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,943. Sweet Briar College admits about 76% of applicants.
Harvard University landed the #6 spot for engineering science value this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Washington And Lee University earned the #7 position for value in engineering science this year. Located in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $76,810. That is a strong return on a $20,074 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University placed #8 among the best values for engineering science. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Trinity University earned the #9 position for value in engineering science this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, Trinity University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,676. Students borrow a median of $21,249 to complete the engineering science program here. Engineering Science graduates of Trinity University earn a median of $74,063 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,249 median debt. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Rutgers University New Brunswick earned the #10 position for value in engineering science this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $69,336 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Smith College earned the #11 position for value in engineering science this year. Set in the city of Northampton, Smith College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $65,178 in tuition and fees. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $18,941 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of Smith College earn a median of $40,436 early in their careers. Set against $18,941 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 21%.
Dartmouth College came in at #12 for value in engineering science this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,019. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $17,083. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $89,929. Set against $17,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering science schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn a median of $79,909 early in their careers. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Wartburg College landed the #14 spot for engineering science value this year. Located in the town of Waverly, Wartburg College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,793 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Wartburg College generally make around $46,918. That is a strong return on a $26,793 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Other Engineering Science Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Engineering Science rankings across degree levels:
View All Engineering Science Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
