2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 51 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 Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
South Texas College tops our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,920, with out-of-state students paying around $7,620. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Tarrant County College District is a very large public school located in the city of Fort Worth. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. Set against $15,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Amarillo College earned it the #3 place for general engineering. Amarillo College is a large public school located in the city of Amarillo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,136, with out-of-state students paying around $4,704. Students borrow a median of $15,720 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,060, compared with $8,684 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,112. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $34,751. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma City Community College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,059, while out-of-state students pay about $9,810. Students borrow a median of $11,750 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Oklahoma City Community College generally make around $39,848. Set against $11,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mclennan Community College earned the #6 position for value in general engineering this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,660, with out-of-state students paying around $5,910. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,598. General Engineering graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,598 median debt.
Austin Community College District came in at #7 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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.
San Juan College landed the #8 spot for general engineering value this year. San Juan College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Farmington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,910, while out-of-state students pay about $5,393. Students borrow a median of $16,150 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of San Juan College earn a median of $41,697 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tulsa Community College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Tulsa Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Tulsa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,516 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Tulsa Community College generally make around $41,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College came in at #10 for value in general engineering this year. Odessa College is a large public school located in the city of Odessa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,688, while out-of-state students pay about $4,926. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Lamar University landed the #11 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $26,988. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $52,678. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon Cooper Technology Center earned the #12 position for value in general engineering this year. Gordon Cooper Technology Center is a small public school located in the town of Shawnee. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $44,822.
Metro Technology Centers came in at #13 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Oklahoma City, Metro Technology Centers is a small public university. Students borrow a median of $15,833 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $48,236. Set against $15,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Arizona Western College placed #14 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Yuma, Arizona Western College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,060 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,870 for out-of-state students. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Arizona Western College generally make around $44,895.
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,183, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,026 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of New Mexico State University Main Campus earn a median of $41,860 early in their careers. Set against $19,026 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Central Technology Center placed #16 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the rural area of Drumright, Central Technology Center is a small public institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,351.
Paris Junior College ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Paris. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,700, while out-of-state students pay about $5,700. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $8,846. General Engineering graduates of Paris Junior College earn a median of $38,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tulsa Technology Center earned the #18 position for value in general engineering this year. Tulsa Technology Center is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Tulsa. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,384. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $32,406. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #19 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,544, compared with $25,502 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,819 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At El Paso generally make around $48,335. That is a strong return on a $19,819 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Central Texas College came in at #20 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,290. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Central Texas College generally make around $53,086. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blinn College placed #21 among the best values for general engineering. Blinn College is a very large public school located in the town of Brenham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,890, compared with $11,370 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,465 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Blinn College earn a median of $43,408 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tyler Junior College earned the #22 position for value in general engineering this year. Tyler Junior College is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, compared with $4,536 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Tyler Junior College earn a median of $43,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,425. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $39,954. Set against $10,425 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Glendale Community College Glendale Az landed the #24 spot for general engineering value this year. Glendale Community College Glendale Az is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glendale. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, compared with $8,959 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,996 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $51,483. Set against $15,996 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center placed #25 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the rural area of Choctaw, Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center is a small public institution. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,311.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Engineering Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general engineering:
Narrow General Engineering Schools by State
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 51 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.
