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2023 Best Value Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

45 Ranked Colleges
947 Degrees Awarded
$9,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 947 people earned their degree in manufacturing engineering, making the major the 243rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, manufacturing engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $70,583 and had an average of $26,962 in loans still to pay off.

For this year’s “Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 45 colleges that offer a degree in manufacturing engineering. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent manufacturing engineering programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the manufacturing engineering program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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The manufacturing engineering school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k”.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Manufacturing Engineering (Income $0-$30k)

1
Northwestern crest
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 25 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $245 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northwestern.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Northwestern University Manufacturing Engineering Report

2

Out of the 45 schools in the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large public school situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It awarded 13 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend U-M is $2,670 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at U-M

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. BYU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 44 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

BYU also took the #5 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $9,445 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend BYU.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Brigham Young University - Provo Manufacturing Engineering Report

4
NC State crest
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Carolina State University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 38 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

NC State also took the #8 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Carolina State University is $7,283 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Carolina State University Manufacturing Engineering Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k. UT Rio Grande Valley is located in Edinburg, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is $2,191 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

6

Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s manufacturing engineering degrees to 20 students in 2020-2021.

ASU - Tempe also took the #22 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend ASU - Tempe is $8,969 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at ASU - Tempe

7

With a ranking of #7, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona is a large school located in Pomona, California that handed out 37 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cal Poly Pomona, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cal Poly Pomona is $10,349 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

8

Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 13 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Georgia Tech also took the #12 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Georgia Tech is $8,818 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Georgia Tech Manufacturing Engineering Report

9

University of California - Irvine landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s manufacturing engineering students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of California - Irvine is $6,540 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at UC Irvine

10

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees to qualified students.

UCLA also took the #19 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $9,037 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UCLA Manufacturing Engineering Report

11

University of Michigan - Dearborn landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Dearborn, Michigan, and it awarded 16 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $9,113 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UM Dearborn.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at UM Dearborn

12

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is a public institution located in San Luis Obispo, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is $12,173 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Manufacturing Engineering Report

13
Ferris crest
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, Michigan

With a ranking of #13, Ferris State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris State University is a public institution located in Big Rapids, Michigan. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Ferris is $6,577 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at Ferris

14

North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s manufacturing engineering students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Dakota State University is $11,835 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at North Dakota State University

15

California State University - Northridge ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. CSUN is located in Northridge, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 20 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $6,266 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at California State University - Northridge

16

Missouri University of Science and Technology ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized school located in Rolla, Missouri that handed out 10 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Missouri University of Science and Technology also took the #21 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. It costs about $7,356 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology

17
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

With a ranking of #17, Western Washington University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Washington University is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Western Washington University is $9,979 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Western Washington University Manufacturing Engineering Report

18

University of Wisconsin - Stout ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Stout is a medium-sized public school situated in Menomonie, Wisconsin. It awarded 44 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UW - Stout also took the #23 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Stout is $10,074 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at UW - Stout

19
Oregon State crest
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon

Oregon State University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Corvallis, Oregon, this large public school awarded 65 degrees to qualified ’s manufacturing engineering students in 2020-2021.

Oregon State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Oregon State is $15,242 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University

20

With a ranking of #20, Grand Valley State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Allendale, Michigan, and it awarded 35 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

GVSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” list. It costs about $10,259 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Grand Valley State University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at Grand Valley State University

21
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #21, Boston University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 13 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Boston U also made our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend Boston University is $12,982 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at Boston University

22

Miami University - Oxford did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Miami University - Oxford is a fairly large school located in Oxford, Ohio that handed out 8 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k list, Miami University - Oxford has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Miami University - Oxford is $13,956 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Miami University - Oxford Manufacturing Engineering Report

23
UK crest
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

University of Kentucky did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. UK is a large public school situated in Lexington, Kentucky. It awarded 6 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Kentucky is $12,593 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Manufacturing Engineering at University of Kentucky

24
Mines crest
Colorado School of Mines
Golden, Colorado

Colorado School of Mines did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #24. Mines is a medium-sized public school situated in Golden, Colorado. It awarded 14 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Mines also made our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $16,977 for Manufacturing Engineering students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Colorado School of Mines.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Manufacturing Engineering at Mines

25
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. USC is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 3 ’s manufacturing engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at USC, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Manufacturing Engineering Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for USC is $17,287 for manufacturing engineering students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of Southern California Manufacturing Engineering Report

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Notes and References

References

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