2026 Best Value Engineering Science Master’s Degree Schools

[Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value engineering science schools.
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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
University Of California San Diego tops our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools in the United States. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, compared with $47,676 for out-of-state students. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $60,797. That is a strong return on a $17,101 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New Orleans earned it the #2 place for engineering science. Set in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,172, compared with $14,008 for out-of-state students. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $23,048 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of University Of New Orleans earn a median of $42,720 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,048 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at Harvard University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $16,616. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Toledo one of the best values for engineering science. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,157, with out-of-state students paying around $21,517. Students borrow a median of $24,923 to complete the engineering science program here. Engineering Science graduates of University Of Toledo earn a median of $52,675 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,923 median debt. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Mississippi Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Set in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, while out-of-state students pay about $28,600. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $22,444. Engineering Science graduates of University Of Mississippi Main Campus earn a median of $73,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,444 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #6 for value in engineering science this year. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, while out-of-state students pay about $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%.
Arizona State University Skysong placed #7 among the best values for engineering science. Located in the city of Scottsdale, Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,742 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Arizona State University Skysong generally make around $94,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University Skysong admits about 67% of applicants.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #8 spot for engineering science value this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,025. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $19,891. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $86,045. Set against $19,891 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Dartmouth College earned the #9 position for value in engineering science this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. In-state tuition and fees average $68,019. Students borrow a median of $17,083 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Dartmouth College generally make around $89,929. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Carnegie Mellon University placed #10 among the best values for engineering science. Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,636. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the engineering science program here. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from Carnegie Mellon University generally make around $89,327. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. 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. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Kettering University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering science schools. Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. In-state tuition and fees average $46,425. Students borrow a median of $28,913 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $87,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kettering University admits about 79% of applicants.
Other Engineering Science Degree Levels
Explore the best-value engineering science schools at other degree levels:
View All Engineering Science Rankings >
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.