2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Manufacturing Engineering](/majors/engineering/manufacturing-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for manufacturing engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in manufacturing engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools
California State Polytechnic University Pomona tops our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools in the United States. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, while out-of-state students pay about $20,381. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $17,083. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from California State Polytechnic University Pomona generally make around $79,549. Set against $17,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Pan American earned it the #2 place for manufacturing engineering. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Ferris State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,778. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $68,715 early in their careers. Set against $18,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $24,253. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $74,119 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,253 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering will find it at Wichita State University, which ranked #5. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Wichita State University generally make around $49,278. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Brigham Young University Provo came in at #6 for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,688. Students borrow a median of $11,000 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $69,520. Set against $11,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Brigham Young University Provo admits about 68% of applicants.
Georgia Southern University came in at #7 for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,022, compared with $17,734 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $26,500. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $83,438 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Georgia Southern University admits about 88% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #8 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, with out-of-state students paying around $33,230. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo generally make around $61,010. That is a strong return on a $19,273 median debt. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University earned the #9 position for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $26,000. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $76,754. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Texas State University San Marcos ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,930. Students borrow a median of $21,375 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $68,886. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Wisconsin Stout earned the #11 position for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,814 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $72,830. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Stout admits about 88% of applicants.
Oregon State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $21,457. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $72,154. That is a strong return on a $21,457 median debt. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
Western Washington University landed the #13 spot for manufacturing engineering value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,582, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,425 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Western Washington University generally make around $65,863. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
Bradley University placed #14 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $27,000. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $67,488 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
National University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,284. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of National University earn a median of $69,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Dunwoody College Of Technology placed #16 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Dunwoody College Of Technology is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,477. Students borrow a median of $34,996 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Dunwoody College Of Technology generally make around $77,857. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University placed #17 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $16,616. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Savannah College Of Art And Design ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Located in the city of Savannah, Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,630. Students borrow a median of $26,346 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Savannah College Of Art And Design earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Other Manufacturing Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Manufacturing Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Manufacturing Engineering Rankings >
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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
