2027 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general mechanical engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Oakland University, our #1 best value for general mechanical engineering in Michigan. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, with out-of-state students paying around $24,735. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $91,832. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Dearborn earned it the #2 place for general mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, with out-of-state students paying around $32,896. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $87,958. That is a strong return on a $23,950 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
University Of Michigan Flint is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, compared with $27,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $74,974. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Flint admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,750 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $92,369 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,750 median debt. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
Wayne State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,650 for out-of-state students. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,140 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $85,140. Set against $24,140 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University earned the #6 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,930, while out-of-state students pay about $30,450. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,679 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $76,823 early in their careers. Set against $26,679 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Superior State University landed the #7 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $26,901. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Lake Superior State University generally make around $77,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan Technological University landed the #8 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the town of Houghton, Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,532, while out-of-state students pay about $44,807. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Michigan Technological University generally make around $80,888. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $29,053. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Detroit Mercy earn a median of $78,552 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Western Michigan University landed the #10 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $68,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #11 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Eastern Michigan University is a large public school located in the suburb of Ypsilanti. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,990. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $28,781. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Eastern Michigan University generally make around $47,887. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Grand Valley State University placed #12 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,502, while out-of-state students pay about $21,894. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Grand Valley State University generally make around $75,777. That is a strong return on a $28,000 median debt. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Central Michigan University came in at #13 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Students from in state pay about $15,480 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $69,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,000 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $80,259 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
Lawrence Technological University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Southfield, Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,760. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Lawrence Technological University earn a median of $77,321 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Kettering University landed the #16 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,425. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Kettering University earn a median of $79,307 early in their careers. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
