2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
[Manufacturing Engineering](/majors/engineering/manufacturing-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for manufacturing engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the manufacturing engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Manufacturing Engineering Schools
Leading the list is The University Of Texas Pan American, our #1 best value for manufacturing engineering in the Southwest Region. Located in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $14,694. Manufacturing Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $46,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Arizona State University earned it the #2 place for manufacturing engineering. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. 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. Set against $24,253 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas At San Antonio one of the best values for manufacturing engineering. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,249. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $23,312. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $49,955. Set against $23,312 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At San Antonio admits about 87% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in manufacturing engineering will find it at Texas State University San Marcos, which ranked #4. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Typical student debt for manufacturing engineering graduates is $21,375. Soon after graduation, manufacturing engineering degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $68,886. That is a strong return on a $21,375 median debt. Texas State University San Marcos admits about 89% of applicants.
Southern Methodist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in manufacturing engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete the manufacturing engineering program here. Early-career manufacturing engineering graduates make about $115,893. Set against $20,712 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Methodist University admits about 63% of applicants.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
