2027 Best Value Engineering Science Master’s Degree Schools

[Engineering Science](/majors/engineering/engineering-science/) 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 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value engineering science schools.
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2027 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 2027 list of the best value engineering science schools in the United States. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $17,101 in student loans. Engineering Science graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of New Orleans is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, University Of New Orleans is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,172, while out-of-state students pay about $14,008. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $23,048. Soon after graduation, engineering science degree recipients from University Of New Orleans generally make around $42,720. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Toledo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering science, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,157 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $24,923. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $52,675. Set against $24,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Toledo admits about 92% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in engineering science will find it at University Of Mississippi Main Campus, which ranked #4. Located in the town of University, University Of Mississippi Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,772, with out-of-state students paying around $28,600. Students borrow a median of $22,444 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $73,758. Set against $22,444 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering science schools. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $16,616. Engineering Science graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
Arizona State University Skysong earned the #6 position for value in engineering science this year. Arizona State University Skysong is a very large public school located in the city of Scottsdale. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,627, compared with $13,925 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $22,870. Engineering Science graduates of Arizona State University Skysong earn a median of $94,870 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #7 spot for engineering science value this year. Set in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,025. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $19,891 in student loans. 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. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Dartmouth College earned the #8 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. Students from in state pay about $68,019 in tuition and fees. 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. That is a strong return on a $17,083 median debt. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Carnegie Mellon University earned the #9 position for value in engineering science this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,636. Engineering Science graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $89,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Carnegie Mellon University admits about 12% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #10 among the best values for engineering science. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Students from in state pay about $20,644 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,790. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the engineering science program here. Early-career engineering science graduates make about $79,909. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Kettering University earned the #11 position for value in engineering science this year. Set in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $46,425. Typical student debt for engineering science graduates is $28,913. Engineering Science graduates of Kettering University earn a median of $87,338 early in their careers. Set against $28,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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), 2027 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.