2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the The Plains States 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for general engineering students.
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2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in the The Plains States 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
Our analysis ranked St Charles Community College the best value for a degree in general engineering in the The Plains States Region. St Charles Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Cottleville. Students from in state pay about $3,810 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,606. General Engineering graduates of St Charles Community College earn a median of $47,228 early in their careers. Set against $12,606 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at College Of The Ozarks, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Point Lookout, College Of The Ozarks is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,360. General Engineering graduates of College Of The Ozarks earn a median of $37,944 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Students looking for strong value in general engineering will find it at Metropolitan Community College Kansas City, which ranked #3. Metropolitan Community College Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $3,630 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,600. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,281 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Metropolitan Community College Kansas City earn a median of $46,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,281 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes Ozarks Technical Community College one of the best values for general engineering. Set in the city of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,256, compared with $7,040 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,866 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $36,644. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at State Fair Community College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Located in the town of Sedalia, State Fair Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,176, compared with $7,416 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,328 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of State Fair Community College earn a median of $39,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,328 median debt.
Des Moines Area Community College came in at #6 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Des Moines Area Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,790 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,956. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $43,121. That is a strong return on a $14,956 median debt.
Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College came in at #7 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the town of Hibbing, Hibbing Community College A Technical And Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022. Students borrow a median of $17,029 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $44,387. Set against $17,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Century College came in at #8 for value in general engineering this year. Century College is a large public school located in the suburb of White Bear Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $6,214. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $15,583. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Century College generally make around $47,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State Community And Technical College landed the #9 spot for general engineering value this year. Minnesota State Community And Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Fergus Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,908. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $18,197. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Minnesota State Community And Technical College generally make around $42,972. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Normandale Community College landed the #10 spot for general engineering value this year. Normandale Community College is a large public school located in the city of Bloomington. In-state tuition and fees average $6,329. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,162. General Engineering graduates of Normandale Community College earn a median of $53,871 early in their careers. Set against $20,162 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wichita State University placed #11 among the best values for general engineering. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,684 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $49,278. Set against $24,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wichita State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Nebraska Lincoln landed the #12 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,434, compared with $28,584 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of University Of Nebraska Lincoln earn a median of $109,909 early in their careers. Set against $22,386 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Butler Community College landed the #13 spot for general engineering value this year. Set in the town of El Dorado, Butler Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,541, compared with $6,271 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $16,670. General Engineering graduates of Butler Community College earn a median of $39,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #14 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,627. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $68,044. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Washington University In St Louis earned the #15 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $68,303. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. The acceptance rate is 12%.
Cornell College earned the #16 position for value in general engineering this year. Set in the town of Mount Vernon, Cornell College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,660. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Cornell College generally make around $35,545. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Saint Louis University Main Campus ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $55,760 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,586 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $67,482. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Louis University Main Campus admits about 75% of applicants.
Doane College Crete ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,985. Students borrow a median of $28,802 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Doane College Crete earn a median of $53,500 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,802 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Northwestern College Minnesota earned the #19 position for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Students borrow a median of $23,505 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $68,516 early in their careers. Set against $23,505 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
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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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
