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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

24 Ranked Colleges
2,820 Degrees Awarded
$14,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor's in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

General Mechanical Engineering is the 12th most popular major in the country with 47,598 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across the Plains States region, there were 3,206 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,820 general mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,786 and $25,576 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered a degree in general mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 24 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in the Plains States Region

#1

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington University in St Louis landed the #1 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Saint Louis, Missouri, and it awarded 104 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for WUSTL is $6,248 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at WUSTL

#2

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 205 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $8,418 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Missouri University of Science and Technology is a medium-sized public school situated in Rolla, Missouri. It awarded 279 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Missouri University of Science and Technology has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $10,660 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Missouri University of Science and Technology.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology General Mechanical Engineering Report

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Minnesota - Duluth is a public institution located in Duluth, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 125 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMN Duluth also took the #10 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $7,992 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Minnesota - Duluth.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Minnesota - Duluth

#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Iowa State University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 429 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $10,843 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Iowa State.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Iowa State University General Mechanical Engineering Report

#6 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Missouri - Columbia is a large public school situated in Columbia, Missouri. It awarded 166 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Mizzou, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Mizzou is $11,595 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, 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 89%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#24 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Missouri - St Louis is a public institution located in Saint Louis, Missouri. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMSL did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #24 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Missouri - St Louis is $6,838 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UMSL

#9 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, North Dakota State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 140 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

North Dakota State University also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $12,544 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report

#5 in overall quality

University of Nebraska - Lincoln landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Lincoln, Nebraska is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 147 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNL, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNL is $13,508 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln General Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, Minnesota
#20 in overall quality

Saint Cloud State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, this fairly large public school handed out 42 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Cloud State University, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Cloud State University is $11,274 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Saint Cloud State University

#11

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota
#12 in overall quality

University of North Dakota ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 104 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

UND also made our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $11,916 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 General Mechanical Engineering at UND

#18 in overall quality

Minnesota State University - Mankato did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #12. Minnesota State University - Mankato is a public institution located in Mankato, Minnesota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 39 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Minnesota State Mankato not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $11,781 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Minnesota State Mankato.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Minnesota State University - Mankato

#13

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school awarded 216 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general mechanical engineering students in 2019-2020.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Kansas State University is $15,089 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University

#14

South Dakota State University

Brookings, South Dakota
#13 in overall quality

South Dakota State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. South Dakota State is a fairly large public school situated in Brookings, South Dakota. It awarded 94 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,273 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend South Dakota State University.

The low student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 South Dakota State General Mechanical Engineering Report

#15

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#11 in overall quality

University of Iowa did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #15. Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 120 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Iowa, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Iowa is $15,073 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Iowa General Mechanical Engineering Report

#16

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#23 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Wichita State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wichita State University is located in Wichita, Kansas and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 96 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

WSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for WSU is $12,543 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University

#17

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Kansas City, Missouri
#22 in overall quality

University of Missouri - Kansas City ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMKC is a fairly large public school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 52 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

UMKC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $12,553 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UMKC.

Full University of Missouri - Kansas City General Mechanical Engineering Report

#18

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#17 in overall quality

University of Kansas ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. KU is a public institution located in Lawrence, Kansas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 118 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, KU has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for KU is $15,380 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at KU

#16 in overall quality

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 99 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

SD Mines not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is $16,644 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota School of Mines and Technology General Mechanical Engineering Report

#20

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, Missouri
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #20, Saint Louis University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. SLU is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, SLU has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $21,082 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend SLU.

With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The 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 student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Saint Louis University General Mechanical Engineering Report

#21

Dordt University

Sioux Center, Iowa
#19 in overall quality

Dordt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #21. Dordt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Sioux Center, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, Dordt has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Dordt is $22,177 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Dordt

#22

Dunwoody College of Technology

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#15 in overall quality

Dunwoody College of Technology came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dunwoody College of Technology is a small school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 13 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

Dunwoody College of Technology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Dunwoody College of Technology is $21,345 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at Dunwoody College of Technology

#23

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, Iowa
#21 in overall quality

Saint Ambrose University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. St. Ambrose University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Davenport, Iowa. The school has a small population, and it awarded 25 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k list, St. Ambrose University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend St. Ambrose University is $24,516 for plains states region bachelor’s degree general mechanical engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Saint Ambrose University

#24

University of St Thomas Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #24, University of St Thomas Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Plains States Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of St Thomas Minnesota is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 102 bachelors’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UST MN, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UST MN is $26,365 for Plains States Region Bachelor’s Degree General Mechanical Engineering students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, 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 87%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of St Thomas Minnesota

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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