2027 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Materials Engineering](/majors/engineering/materials-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value materials engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Materials Engineering Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in materials engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Materials Engineering Schools
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #1 spot for value among materials engineering schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $75,041. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $17,916. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $75,080 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in materials engineering will find it at Purdue University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,992, while out-of-state students pay about $28,794. Students borrow a median of $21,335 to complete the materials engineering program here. Soon after graduation, materials engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Main Campus generally make around $78,265. Set against $21,335 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Michigan Technological University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $63,135. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire one of the best values for materials engineering. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $9,642 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,228. Students borrow a median of $22,574 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $49,911. That is a strong return on a $22,574 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Eau Claire admits about 82% of applicants.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #6 among the best values for materials engineering. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $70,371. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #7 for value in materials engineering this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $20,676. Materials Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $76,662 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Michigan State University placed #8 among the best values for materials engineering. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $27,925 to complete the materials engineering program here. Materials Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $78,276 early in their careers. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for materials engineering. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $23,530 to complete the materials engineering program here. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $58,659. Set against $23,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Northwestern University came in at #10 for value in materials engineering this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Materials Engineering graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
University Of Dayton ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value materials engineering schools. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Materials Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $56,077. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Case Western Reserve University came in at #12 for value in materials engineering this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $66,608. Typical student debt for materials engineering graduates is $25,106. Early-career materials engineering graduates make about $74,459. Set against $25,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
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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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
