2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Illinois
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Illinois
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 Moraine Valley Community College this year. Moraine Valley Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Palos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rock Valley College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rockford. In-state tuition and fees average $4,334, 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.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large 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. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earn a median of $33,073 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Mchenry County College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Crystal Lake, Mchenry County College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Elgin Community College, which ranked #5. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,252, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. 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. Set against $7,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage came in at #6 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. 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.
College Of Lake County earned the #7 position for value in general engineering this year. College Of Lake County is a very large public school located in the suburb of Grayslake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,788, with out-of-state students paying around $14,400. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $9,785. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from College Of Lake County generally make around $50,314. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,533. General Engineering graduates of City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College earn a median of $33,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,533 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned the #9 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Parkland College came in at #10 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,115. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Harper College placed #12 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,894, while out-of-state students pay about $11,874. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,963. General Engineering graduates of Harper College earn a median of $44,523 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Illinois Central College earned the #13 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of East Peoria, Illinois Central College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,800 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,150 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,222. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Illinois Central College generally make around $53,190. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign landed the #14 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #15 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,900. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $66,394. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #16 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,764 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Set against $26,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
