2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Master’s Degree Schools

[Manufacturing Engineering](/majors/engineering/manufacturing-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong manufacturing engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 15 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes 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 University Northridge tops our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,458, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $48,437. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the best values for manufacturing engineering. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $19,137. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,326, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Students borrow a median of $23,312 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $49,955. That is a strong return on a $23,312 median debt. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Students borrow a median of $24,253 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $74,119 early in their careers. Set against $24,253 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Brigham Young University Provo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,688. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,000 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $69,520. That is a strong return on a $11,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #6 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, compared with $32,847 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $22,113. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $59,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus earned the #7 position for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Located in the city of Hato Rey, Universidad Politecnica De Puerto Rico Hato Rey Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,870. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $23,182. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $29,146. Set against $23,182 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Wisconsin Stout landed the #8 spot for manufacturing engineering value this year. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,701, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $29,814. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $94,163. Set against $29,814 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University World Campus earned the #9 position for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University World Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,356. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $26,062. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University World Campus generally make around $93,432. Set against $26,062 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Bradley University came in at #10 for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $67,488 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Boston University placed #11 among the best values for manufacturing engineering. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,521 in student loans. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $76,298. Set against $24,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #13 spot for manufacturing engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Manufacturing Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,491 in student loans. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $63,515. That is a strong return on a $27,491 median debt. Rochester Institute Of Technology admits about 67% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value manufacturing engineering schools. Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $67,040 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $20,712. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $115,893. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Savannah College Of Art And Design came in at #15 for value in manufacturing engineering this year. Savannah College Of Art And Design is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Savannah. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,630. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $26,346. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $40,671. Set against $26,346 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Savannah College Of Art And Design admits about 83% of applicants.
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
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.