2026 Best Value Applied Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the applied engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Applied Engineering Schools
Daytona State College earned the #1 spot for value among applied engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Daytona Beach, Daytona State College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,106, with out-of-state students paying around $11,994. Typical student debt for applied engineering graduates is $14,227. Applied Engineering graduates of Daytona State College earn a median of $43,320 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in applied engineering will find it at Millersville University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Applied Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. Early-career applied engineering graduates make about $47,049. Set against $26,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ohio University Main Campus one of the best values for applied engineering. Located in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Applied Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,546 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied engineering degree recipients from Ohio University Main Campus generally make around $103,961. Set against $24,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the best values for applied engineering. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for applied engineering graduates is $20,373. Early-career applied engineering graduates make about $115,924. That is a strong return on a $20,373 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Massachusetts Maritime Academy one of the best values for applied engineering. Located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, with out-of-state students paying around $23,722. Typical student debt for applied engineering graduates is $25,884. Applied Engineering graduates of Massachusetts Maritime Academy earn a median of $77,139 early in their careers. Set against $25,884 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Savannah College Of Art And Design earned the #6 position for value in applied engineering this year. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $41,630 in tuition and fees. Applied Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,346 in student loans. Applied Engineering graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. Set against $26,346 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Other Applied Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value applied engineering schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
[Applied Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/applied-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied engineering education at a price that pays off.
