2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Oregon
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Oregon
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
Our analysis ranked Portland State University the best value for a degree in mechanical engineering in Oregon. Located in the city of Portland, Portland State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,136. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $29,113 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Portland State University generally make around $85,519. That is a strong return on a $29,113 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Oregon Institute Of Technology came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the town of Klamath Falls, Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $13,260 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,196. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $26,258. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oregon Institute Of Technology generally make around $75,750. Set against $26,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at Oregon State University, which ranked #3. Oregon State University is a very large public school located in the city of Corvallis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, compared with $38,190 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,666 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $75,529. That is a strong return on a $24,666 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
George Fox University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,320 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,324 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of George Fox University earn a median of $52,898 early in their careers. Set against $25,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Portland, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Portland is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $23,681. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $76,909. That is a strong return on a $23,681 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
