2026 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
Essex County College tops our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Set in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,415, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. Students borrow a median of $12,472 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Essex County College generally make around $37,915. Set against $12,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Selden, Suffolk County Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,630, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,246 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $35,667. That is a strong return on a $11,246 median debt.
Montgomery College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Rockville, Montgomery College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,394, while out-of-state students pay about $14,250. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Montgomery College generally make around $24,833. That is a strong return on a $11,230 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Cuny Queensborough Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Bayside, Cuny Queensborough Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,210, compared with $8,090 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,052 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Cuny Queensborough Community College generally make around $23,674. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Monroe Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Monroe Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $6,006, while out-of-state students pay about $11,056. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,185 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $38,757. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earned the #6 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,170, while out-of-state students pay about $8,050. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,794. General Engineering graduates of Cuny Borough Of Manhattan Community College earn a median of $30,518 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $8,794 median debt.
Hudson Valley Community College came in at #7 for value in general engineering this year. Hudson Valley Community College is a large public school located in the city of Troy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,796, with out-of-state students paying around $11,852. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Hudson Valley Community College generally make around $43,989. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny College Of Staten Island placed #8 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Staten Island, Cuny College Of Staten Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,490, while out-of-state students pay about $15,440. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,688. General Engineering graduates of Cuny College Of Staten Island earn a median of $48,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,688 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Erie Community College placed #9 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Buffalo, Erie Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,100, compared with $11,300 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,580 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,069. Set against $12,580 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Union County College placed #10 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,508 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Union County College generally make around $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Delaware County Community College landed the #11 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Media, Delaware County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,930 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,540 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,866. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $40,102. That is a strong return on a $14,866 median debt.
Orange County Community College came in at #12 for value in general engineering this year. Orange County Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,526, with out-of-state students paying around $12,334. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,152 in student loans. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,442. That is a strong return on a $14,152 median debt.
Onondaga Community College placed #13 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Syracuse, Onondaga Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,102, while out-of-state students pay about $11,392. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,623 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Onondaga Community College earn a median of $35,781 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,623 median debt.
Hagerstown Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Hagerstown Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hagerstown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,320, compared with $8,190 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $15,126. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Hagerstown Community College generally make around $46,478. Set against $15,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Bucks County Community College landed the #15 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Newtown, Bucks County Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,646 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,926. Students borrow a median of $13,068 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $37,711. That is a strong return on a $13,068 median debt.
Broome Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Binghamton, Broome Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,624, compared with $14,288 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $16,830. General Engineering graduates of Broome Community College earn a median of $41,560 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Suny Westchester Community College earned the #17 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Valhalla, Suny Westchester Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,948, while out-of-state students pay about $12,486. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,764. General Engineering graduates of Suny Westchester Community College earn a median of $57,520 early in their careers. Set against $8,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brookdale Community College landed the #18 spot for general engineering value this year. Brookdale Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Lincroft. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,270, with out-of-state students paying around $10,140. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $37,374. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Mohawk Valley Community College earned the #19 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,218, compared with $8,851 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Mohawk Valley Community College generally make around $38,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Southern Maryland came in at #20 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the rural area of La Plata, College Of Southern Maryland is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,450. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,728 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of College Of Southern Maryland earn a median of $51,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,728 median debt.
Harford Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Bel Air, Harford Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,032, while out-of-state students pay about $8,832. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,624. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $50,636. Set against $12,624 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #22 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,594, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,002. General Engineering graduates of Atlantic Cape Community College earn a median of $37,141 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,002 median debt.
Howard Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Columbia, Howard Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,599, with out-of-state students paying around $10,836. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,115 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Howard Community College earn a median of $56,172 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Gloucester County College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,236 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Gloucester County College generally make around $38,274. That is a strong return on a $13,236 median debt.
Ocean County College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,906, compared with $6,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $13,792. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $41,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 49 Best Value General Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for general engineering this year:
Narrow General Engineering Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 113 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
[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.
