2026 Best Value Engineering Science Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
Our analysis ranked Vincennes University the best value for a degree in engineering science in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the town of Vincennes, Vincennes University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,126, with out-of-state students paying around $16,858. Students borrow a median of $14,506 to complete the engineering science program here. Engineering Science graduates of Vincennes University earn a median of $45,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Toledo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Toledo is a large public school located in the city of Toledo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $24,923. Engineering Science graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Wright State University Main Campus is a large public school located in the suburb of Dayton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. Students borrow a median of $25,836 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Notre Dame one of the best values for engineering science. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Students borrow a median of $19,891 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $86,045. Set against $19,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kettering University earned it the #5 place for engineering science. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. In-state tuition and fees average $46,425. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $28,913 in student loans. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $87,338. Set against $28,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kettering University admits about 79% of applicants.
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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 · 17 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.
[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.
