2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in District of Columbia
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general mechanical engineering education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general mechanical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in District of Columbia
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
Our analysis ranked University Of The District Of Columbia the best value for a degree in general mechanical engineering in District of Columbia. Located in the city of Washington, University Of The District Of Columbia is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,662, while out-of-state students pay about $12,514. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $32,304 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of The District Of Columbia generally make around $57,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Catholic University Of America is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Students from in state pay about $58,378 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $76,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
George Washington University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,710. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from George Washington University generally make around $82,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Students looking for strong value in general mechanical engineering will find it at Howard University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Washington, Howard University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,810. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $25,498. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Howard University earn a median of $58,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Howard University admits about 41% of applicants.
More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings
View All General Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
