2027 Best Value General Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 91 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked John Tyler Community College the best value for a degree in general engineering in the United States. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,262. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. That is a strong return on a $11,262 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moraine Valley Community College earned it the #2 place for general engineering. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. In-state tuition and fees average $3,822, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,149. General Engineering graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Washtenaw Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,736 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Middlesex Community College Bedford came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,602. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $48,427. That is a strong return on a $11,602 median debt.
Essex County College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,415, compared with $9,523 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Essex County College generally make around $37,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Amarillo College placed #6 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,136, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,053. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
South Texas College earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. South Texas College is a very large public school located in the city of McAllen. In-state tuition and fees average $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $6,868. General Engineering graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,868 median debt.
Modesto Junior College earned the #8 position for value in general engineering this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, compared with $9,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,575 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $36,525. Set against $8,575 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Monroe Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Rochester, Monroe Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,006 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,056. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,185 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Monroe Community College generally make around $38,757. Set against $9,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Germanna Community College landed the #10 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, while out-of-state students pay about $11,648. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Queensborough Community College landed the #11 spot for general engineering value this year. Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bayside. In-state tuition and fees average $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,052. General Engineering graduates of Cuny Queensborough Community College earn a median of $23,674 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,052 median debt.
Rock Valley College placed #12 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,236. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District landed the #13 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Tarrant County College District earn a median of $45,158 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
Springfield Technical Community College came in at #14 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,904 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,112. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,707 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Springfield Technical Community College earn a median of $42,457 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Students borrow a median of $8,794 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College generally make around $30,518. Set against $8,794 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Snow College came in at #16 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the town of Ephraim, Snow College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,440 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Snow College generally make around $42,776. Set against $10,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #17 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,500. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College generally make around $36,965. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Austin Community College District placed #18 among the best values for general engineering. Austin Community College District is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,375 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,183. That is a strong return on a $15,375 median debt.
Montgomery College earned the #19 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,394, compared with $14,250 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,230 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $24,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Copiah Lincoln Community College landed the #20 spot for general engineering value this year. Copiah Lincoln Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Wesson. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,200, with out-of-state students paying around $5,200. Median earnings reach $31,241 ten years out.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #21 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
College Of Dupage earned the #22 position for value in general engineering this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,025. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College earned the #23 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,252, while out-of-state students pay about $8,132. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $7,858. General Engineering graduates of Cuny Kingsborough Community College earn a median of $35,562 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lord Fairfax Community College placed #24 among the best values for general engineering. Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Middletown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,698 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College generally make around $37,531. Set against $10,698 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #25 position for value in general engineering this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,093. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s general engineering value ranking:
Other General Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All General Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 91 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 91 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.
