2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 40 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
For return on investment in general engineering, no school beat Henry Ford Community College this year. Henry Ford Community College is a large public school located in the city of Dearborn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, compared with $7,816 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,813 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $36,247. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Moraine Valley Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,822, with out-of-state students paying around $9,846. Students borrow a median of $11,149 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Moraine Valley Community College earn a median of $43,844 early in their careers. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Washtenaw Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Students borrow a median of $17,616 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kalamazoo Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Kalamazoo Valley Community College generally make around $44,198. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Rock Valley College one of the best values for general engineering. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,334, compared with $7,379 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,236 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,080. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage came in at #6 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
Sinclair Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, while out-of-state students pay about $8,556. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,192. General Engineering graduates of Sinclair Community College earn a median of $35,348 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,192 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College placed #8 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,093 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Set against $8,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mchenry County College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,162, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $7,440. General Engineering graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of $24,177 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Elgin Community College earned the #10 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,935 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Lake County placed #12 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,788, compared with $14,400 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,785. General Engineering graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College landed the #13 spot for general engineering value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,533. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. Set against $11,533 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $61,829. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #15 spot for general engineering value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana State University landed the #16 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,258, with out-of-state students paying around $22,322. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $53,952 early in their careers. Set against $25,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Jackson Community College landed the #17 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,322. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College landed the #18 spot for general engineering value this year. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,168 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $40,409 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Harper College landed the #19 spot for general engineering value this year. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,963 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,963 median debt.
Andrews University placed #20 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants.
Michigan Technological University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,800 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $64,652. Set against $25,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #22 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,778. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Illinois Central College placed #23 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800, with out-of-state students paying around $12,150. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,222. General Engineering graduates of Illinois Central College earn a median of $53,190 early in their careers. Set against $12,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Main Campus ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of West Lafayette, Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,992, with out-of-state students paying around $28,794. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,844 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $63,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Bay De Noc Community College earned the #25 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the town of Escanaba, Bay De Noc Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214, compared with $11,453 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $39,075. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 40 Best Value General Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general engineering this year:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 40 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 40 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.
