2027 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Ohio
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 18 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 Ohio
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 Stark State College, our #1 best value for general mechanical engineering in Ohio. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $17,349. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Stark State College generally make around $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Akron Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,135 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $25,125. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $71,448. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Youngstown State University one of the best values for general mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,286. Students borrow a median of $24,817 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ohio State University Main Campus earned it the #4 place for general mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $88,747 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Toledo, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Toledo, University Of Toledo is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,157, compared with $21,517 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,900 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Toledo generally make around $77,011. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Cleveland State University earned the #6 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,982, with out-of-state students paying around $18,502. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $67,980. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Wright State University Lake Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the rural area of Celina, Wright State University Lake Campus is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,372, with out-of-state students paying around $17,072. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Wright State University Lake Campus earn a median of $66,331 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, with out-of-state students paying around $20,691. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,293. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Ohio University Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $69,161 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Otterbein University earned the #10 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Otterbein University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Westerville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,548. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,282 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Otterbein University generally make around $45,871. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Mount Union landed the #11 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the town of Alliance, University Of Mount Union is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Mount Union generally make around $71,097. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $25,029. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Set against $25,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Cedarville University came in at #13 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $69,178. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Northern University earned the #14 position for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Set in the town of Ada, Ohio Northern University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,600. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Ohio Northern University earn a median of $72,443 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Ohio Northern University admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #15 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, while out-of-state students pay about $28,697. Students borrow a median of $25,998 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $83,881. That is a strong return on a $25,998 median debt. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford landed the #16 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, with out-of-state students paying around $38,965. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,100 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Miami University Oxford earn a median of $68,067 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Dayton ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,250 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Dayton earn a median of $71,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Case Western Reserve University placed #18 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Case Western Reserve University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,608. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,855 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Case Western Reserve University earn a median of $76,736 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,855 median debt. Case Western Reserve University admits about 36% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
