Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Mechanical Engineering

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Texas

24 Ranked Colleges
3,898 Degrees Awarded
$12,600 Avg Net Price*
Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

Mechanical Engineering is the 20th most popular major in the country with 47,598 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, mechanical engineering graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $64,495 and had an average of $23,104 in loans still to pay off.

Across Texas, there were 3,898 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $62,277 and $21,204 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 24 colleges that offer a degree in mechanical engineering. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality mechanical engineering programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 24 Best Value Colleges for Mechanical Engineering (Income $30-$48k) in Texas

#1

Rice University

Houston, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. Rice University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 60 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Rice, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rice is $7,534 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Rice University

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley landed the #2 spot on the list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a public institution located in Edinburg, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 116 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Rio Grande Valley did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. It costs about $3,473 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Mechanical Engineering Report

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 575 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. It costs about $13,270 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Texas A&M University - College Station.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M College Station

#4

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, Texas

Out of the 24 schools in the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas Tech University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Lubbock, Texas, and it awarded 389 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Texas Tech, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas Tech University is $13,326 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of North Texas. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Denton, Texas, this large public school handed out 179 diplomas to qualified ’s ME students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNT, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNT is $9,082 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UNT

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 344 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for The University of Texas at Austin is $13,575 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UT Austin

The University of Texas at Tyler ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Tyler is located in Tyler, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 117 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UT Tyler not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. It costs about $7,058 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend The University of Texas at Tyler.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at Tyler

#8

University of Houston

Houston, Texas

University of Houston ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Houston is a large public school situated in Houston, Texas. It awarded 276 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. The estimated yearly cost for UH is $9,925 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Houston

The University of Texas at San Antonio did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. The University of Texas at San Antonio is located in San Antonio, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 214 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UTSA also took the #17 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UTSA is $11,109 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UTSA

The University of Texas of the Permian Basin ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. UT Permian Basin is a medium-sized public school situated in Odessa, Texas. It awarded 55 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Permian Basin also took the #12 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Permian Basin is $10,221 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full UT Permian Basin Mechanical Engineering Report

#11

Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Lamar University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Beaumont, Texas, and it awarded 64 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Lamar University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lamar University is $10,631 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Lamar University

The University of Texas at Dallas came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. The University of Texas at Dallas is located in Richardson, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 277 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

UT Dallas also took the #8 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. It costs about $11,745 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UT Dallas.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full UT Dallas Mechanical Engineering Report

With a ranking of #13, The University of Texas at El Paso did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in El Paso, Texas, and it awarded 240 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UTEP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. The estimated yearly cost for UTEP is $7,427 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso

#14

MSU Texas

Wichita Falls, Texas

MSU Texas ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. MSU Texas is located in Wichita Falls, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 50 ’s ME degrees to qualified students.

MSU Texas also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list, coming in at #24. It costs about $8,554 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend MSU Texas.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at MSU Texas

Texas A&M University - Kingsville came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Texas A&M Kingsville is a medium-sized school located in Kingsville, Texas that handed out 97 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Kingsville also took the #19 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Texas A&M University - Kingsville is $11,721 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Texas A&M Kingsville Mechanical Engineering Report

#16

Prairie View A & M University

Prairie View, Texas

With a ranking of #16, Prairie View A & M University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Prairie View, Texas, this medium-sized public school awarded 70 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2019-2020.

PVAMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. It costs about $13,098 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend PVAMU.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at PVAMU

The University of Texas at Arlington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #17. UT Arlington is a large public school situated in Arlington, Texas. It awarded 304 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Arlington also took the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UT Arlington is $12,974 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at UT Arlington

#18

West Texas A&M University

Canyon, Texas

West Texas A&M University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. West Texas A&M University is a public institution located in Canyon, Texas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 43 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

West Texas A&M University also took the #21 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. It costs about $10,146 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend West Texas A&M University.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at West Texas A&M University

University of Houston - Clear Lake landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Houston - Clear Lake is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 8 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

UH Clear Lake also took the #23 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Houston - Clear Lake is $7,941 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Houston - Clear Lake

#20

Tarleton State University

Stephenville, Texas

With a ranking of #20, Tarleton State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. Tarleton is a fairly large school located in Stephenville, Texas that handed out 14 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our texas me students whose families make $30-$48k list, Tarleton has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Tarleton State University is $17,132 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Tarleton State University

#21

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, Texas

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This fairly large school is located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and it awarded 83 ’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. The yearly cost to attend Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi is $16,393 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

#22

LeTourneau University

Longview, Texas

With a ranking of #22, LeTourneau University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Longview, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 53 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2019-2020.

LETU also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend LeTourneau University is $17,824 for Texas ME students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at LeTourneau University

Southern Methodist University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ME degrees to 99 students in 2019-2020.

SMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list. The yearly cost to attend Southern Methodist University is $27,331 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Southern Methodist University

#24

Baylor University

Waco, Texas

Baylor University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value ME Schools in Texas For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Waco, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 94 degrees to qualified ’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Baylor also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in Texas” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Baylor is $29,849 for texas me students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Baylor University Mechanical Engineering Report

Switch to a Similar Major

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Engineering Schools

Find Schools Near You