2027 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in New Jersey

[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 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general mechanical engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in New Jersey
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Princeton University the best value for a degree in general mechanical engineering in New Jersey. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $10,888. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $85,328. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 5%.
Students looking for strong value in general mechanical engineering will find it at Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus, which ranked #2. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Teaneck. Students from in state pay about $37,010 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $24,770. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus generally make around $54,505. That is a strong return on a $24,770 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $23,334. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of New Jersey Institute Of Technology earn a median of $73,164 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Jersey Institute Of Technology admits about 65% of applicants.
Rowan University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, with out-of-state students paying around $26,932. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $66,909 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,500 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,929, while out-of-state students pay about $37,441. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Rutgers University New Brunswick generally make around $77,917. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The College Of New Jersey placed #6 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,875 in student loans. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $65,761. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Stevens Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for general mechanical engineering. Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoboken. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $63,462. Students borrow a median of $26,520 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $83,493. That is a strong return on a $26,520 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
More General Mechanical Engineering Rankings
View All General Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.