2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia
[General Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/general-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general mechanical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for general mechanical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Mechanical Engineering Schools in Virginia
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 Old Dominion University, our #1 best value for general mechanical engineering in Virginia. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $71,774. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,570. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Military Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. General Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,971 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Virginia Military Institute generally make around $47,837. That is a strong return on a $19,971 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $22,235 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general mechanical engineering degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $73,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general mechanical engineering schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $24,250. Early-career general mechanical engineering graduates make about $74,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #6 spot for general mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the general mechanical engineering program here. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $80,722 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Liberty University came in at #7 for value in general mechanical engineering this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for general mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. General Mechanical Engineering graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $65,794 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 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.
