2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-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 mechanical engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Tacoma Community College, our #1 best value for mechanical engineering in the United States. Located in the city of Tacoma, Tacoma Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,507, compared with $11,646 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,822 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $41,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Snow College earned it the #2 place for mechanical engineering. Snow College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Ephraim. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,338, while out-of-state students pay about $14,288. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $10,440. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $42,776. That is a strong return on a $10,440 median debt.
Cuny Laguardia Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. Cuny Laguardia Community College is a large public school located in the city of Long Island City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,218, with out-of-state students paying around $8,098. Students borrow a median of $8,858 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cuny Laguardia Community College generally make around $31,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tulsa Community College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Tulsa Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,792, with out-of-state students paying around $9,720. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,789 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Tulsa Community College earn a median of $41,718 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
El Paso Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. El Paso Community College is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $8,542. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from El Paso Community College generally make around $29,086. That is a strong return on a $8,542 median debt.
East Mississippi Community College came in at #6 for value in mechanical engineering this year. East Mississippi Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Scooba. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,095, compared with $7,445 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $9,422. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $34,012. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Odessa College placed #7 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,688, with out-of-state students paying around $4,926. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,087 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $47,856. That is a strong return on a $9,087 median debt.
Community College Of Rhode Island placed #8 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,550, compared with $14,834 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $13,940. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Set against $13,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Olympic College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Olympic College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bremerton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,472, with out-of-state students paying around $9,740. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,497 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Olympic College earn a median of $57,593 early in their careers. Set against $11,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Stark State College earned the #10 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $42,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Everett Community College came in at #11 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Everett, Everett Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,032, while out-of-state students pay about $11,171. Students borrow a median of $13,542 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Everett Community College generally make around $47,441. That is a strong return on a $13,542 median debt.
Montgomery County Community College earned the #12 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,690, while out-of-state students pay about $17,250. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,219 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Montgomery County Community College earn a median of $39,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lone Star College System placed #13 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Lone Star College System is a very large public school located in the city of The Woodlands. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,664, while out-of-state students pay about $7,512. Students borrow a median of $15,848 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $39,954. That is a strong return on a $15,848 median debt.
Clark College landed the #14 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Clark College is a large public school located in the city of Vancouver. In-state tuition and fees average $5,233, with out-of-state students paying around $11,183. Students borrow a median of $15,432 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Clark College earn a median of $43,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,432 median debt.
Whatcom Community College placed #15 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,296 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,435 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,588 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $51,466. Set against $16,588 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Green River Community College placed #16 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Green River Community College is a large public school located in the city of Auburn. Students from in state pay about $4,711 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,263 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,712 ten years after entry.
Front Range Community College placed #17 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the suburb of Westminster, Front Range Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,663, with out-of-state students paying around $17,263. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,384 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $40,414. Set against $17,384 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Vermont Technical College came in at #18 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Randolph. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,208. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Vermont Technical College earn a median of $41,822 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Other Mechanical Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value mechanical engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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.
