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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region

10 Ranked Colleges
89 Degrees Awarded
$26,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 47,598 people earned their degree in mechanical engineering, making the major the 20th most popular in the United States. 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 the Plains States region, there were 3,206 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $64,126 and $23,280 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 89 mechanical engineering graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,701 and $106,703 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 10 colleges that offered a degree in mechanical engineering. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great mechanical engineering programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the mechanical engineering program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Mechanical Engineering Schools

The me school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region.

Top 11 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Mechanical Engineering in the Plains States Region

#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region. Fargo, North Dakota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s ME degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at North Dakota State University, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at North Dakota State University - Main Campus are $11,589, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full North Dakota State University - Main Campus Mechanical Engineering Report

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. UNL is a large public school situated in Lincoln, Nebraska. It awarded 5 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree me students list, UNL has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513.

Full UNL Mechanical Engineering Report

#3

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 32 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at UMN Twin Cities

#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. This small school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

SD Mines also took the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are $19,250, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SD Mines Mechanical Engineering Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Missouri - Columbia. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region. University of Missouri - Columbia is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

Mizzou not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Mizzou are $27,193, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at University of Missouri - Columbia

#5

University of Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Kansas. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. University of Kansas is located in Lawrence, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

KU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at KU are $25,007.

Full University of Kansas Mechanical Engineering Report

#6

University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa
#3 in overall quality

University of Iowa ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. University of Iowa is a large school located in Iowa City, Iowa that handed out 9 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

Iowa not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa are $27,613.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Iowa

#7

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Kansas State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Kansas State University is located in Manhattan, Kansas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 doctorate’s ME degrees to qualified students.

K -State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at K -State are $24,115, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University

#8

Wichita State University

Wichita, Kansas
#10 in overall quality

Wichita State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region list. Wichita State University is a public institution located in Wichita, Kansas. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WSU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WSU are $15,112.

Read full report on Mechanical Engineering at WSU

#5 in overall quality

Missouri University of Science and Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Rolla, Missouri, this medium-sized public school awarded 10 degrees to qualified doctorate’s ME students in 2019-2020.

Missouri University of Science and Technology also made our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Missouri University of Science and Technology are $30,943.

Full Missouri University of Science and Technology Mechanical Engineering Report

#10

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#1 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value ME Schools for a Doctorate in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #10. WUSTL is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 4 doctorate’s ME degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our plains states region doctor’s degree me students list, WUSTL has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Mechanical Engineering Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562.

Read more about Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St Louis

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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.

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