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2023 Best Value Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering

313 Ranked Colleges
46,178 Degrees Awarded
$13,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Mechanical Engineering is the 14th most popular major in the country with 46,178 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools” ranking analyzed 313 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.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general mechanical engineering program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank General Mechanical Engineering Schools

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More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools

The colleges and universities below are the best for general mechanical engineering students.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for General Mechanical Engineering

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools. Located in Provo, Utah, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 199 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $13,474 for general mechanical engineering students.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at BYU

2

Out of the 313 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, North Dakota State University - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. North Dakota State University - Main Campus is located in Fargo, North Dakota and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 170 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,998 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University - Main Campus

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools. Brigham Young University - Idaho is a large school located in Rexburg, Idaho that handed out 108 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Brigham Young University - Idaho is $6,698 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% 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 Brigham Young University - Idaho

4

Out of the 313 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez landed the #4 spot on the list. UPR Mayaguez is a public institution located in Mayaguez, . The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 200 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez is $10,975 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

5

Out of the 313 schools in the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Akron Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Akron Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Akron, Ohio. It awarded 215 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Akron Main Campus is $17,945 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

Full University of Akron Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report

6
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 80 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend South Dakota State is $18,578 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University

7
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University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 112 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $16,966 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend UND.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of North Dakota

8
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. Purdue is a large public school situated in West Lafayette, Indiana. It awarded 582 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Purdue is $13,377 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, 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 93%.

Full Purdue General Mechanical Engineering Report

9

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. SD Mines is a small public school situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awarded 64 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $19,919 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend SD Mines.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

10
Texas Tech crest
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Texas Tech University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 342 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $16,194 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend Texas Tech.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.5% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University

11
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking, coming in at #11. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 597 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

UF also took the #18 spot in our “Best General Mechanical Engineering Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UF is $5,135 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Florida

12

University of Wisconsin - Platteville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking, coming in at #12. UW - Platteville is a medium-sized public school situated in Platteville, Wisconsin. It awarded 198 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Platteville is $14,565 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at UW - Platteville

12
UH crest
University of Houston
Houston, Texas

University of Houston came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. UH is a large school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 286 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of Houston is $13,721 for general mechanical engineering students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, 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 86%.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at University of Houston

14

With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Stout did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools list. University of Wisconsin - Stout is a medium-sized school located in Menomonie, Wisconsin that handed out 71 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $15,589 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend UW - Stout.

The undergrad 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 UW - Stout General Mechanical Engineering Report

15
WMU crest
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Western Michigan University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. WMU is located in Kalamazoo, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 103 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $20,371 for general mechanical engineering students per year to attend Western Michigan University.

Read full report on General Mechanical Engineering at WMU

16

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking, coming in at #16. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 174 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Florida International University is $5,298 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Full Florida International University General Mechanical Engineering Report

17

With a ranking of #17, University of South Florida - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools list. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 243 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for University of South Florida - Main Campus is $8,346 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of South Florida - Main Campus General Mechanical Engineering Report

18

Iowa State University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. Iowa State is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 451 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Iowa State is $16,002 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.

Full Iowa State University General Mechanical Engineering Report

19

University of Minnesota - Duluth landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. Duluth, Minnesota is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 121 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $18,505 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend UMN Duluth.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UMN Duluth General Mechanical Engineering Report

20

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 72 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $14,462 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

Full SIUE General Mechanical Engineering Report

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools list. University of Central Florida is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 503 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend University of Central Florida is $8,618 for General Mechanical Engineering students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at University of Central Florida

22
Mississippi State crest
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi

Mississippi State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Mississippi State, Mississippi, this large public school handed out 216 diplomas to qualified ’s general mechanical engineering students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Mississippi State is $16,122 for general mechanical engineering students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Full Mississippi State University General Mechanical Engineering Report

23
NC A&T crest
North Carolina A & T State University
Greensboro, North Carolina

North Carolina A & T State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools list. NC A&T is a fairly large public school situated in Greensboro, North Carolina. It awarded 106 ’s general mechanical engineering degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $10,563 for general mechanical engineering students per year to attend North Carolina A & T State University.

Full North Carolina A & T State University General Mechanical Engineering Report

24

Northern Illinois University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools ranking. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 135 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $13,956 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend NIU.

Read more about General Mechanical Engineering at NIU

24
UW crest
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming

With a ranking of #24, University of Wyoming did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools list. Laramie, Wyoming is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general mechanical engineering degrees to 72 students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $11,085 for General Mechanical Engineering students per year to attend University of Wyoming.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Wyoming General Mechanical Engineering Report

Rest of the Best 47 in Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools

Not only did these schools make the top 47 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
27
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Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, Georgia
28
29
30
31
32
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
33
34
35
36
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia
37
38
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Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas
39
40
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North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
41
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Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan
42
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Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
43
44
45
46
47

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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