2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mechanical engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Michigan
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Oakland University tops our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools in Michigan. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $91,832. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Dearborn, which ranked #2. University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Dearborn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Students borrow a median of $23,950 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $87,958 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,950 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Michigan Flint, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Flint, University Of Michigan Flint is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,236, while out-of-state students pay about $27,790. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $31,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Flint generally make around $74,974. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #4 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,750 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $92,369. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Wayne State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,159 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,140. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Wayne State University earn a median of $85,140 early in their careers. Set against $24,140 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Saginaw Valley State University landed the #6 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of University Center, Saginaw Valley State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,930, with out-of-state students paying around $30,450. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $26,679. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Saginaw Valley State University earn a median of $76,823 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,679 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Superior State University came in at #7 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Lake Superior State University is a small public school located in the town of Sault Ste Marie. In-state tuition and fees average $14,890. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,901 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $77,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Michigan Technological University came in at #8 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Michigan Technological University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Houghton. Students from in state pay about $20,532 in tuition and fees, compared with $44,807 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Michigan Technological University earn a median of $80,888 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Michigan Technological University admits about 92% of applicants.
University Of Detroit Mercy placed #9 among the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,946. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $78,552. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Western Michigan University came in at #10 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,987, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Western Michigan University generally make around $68,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Eastern Michigan University came in at #11 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,990. Students borrow a median of $28,781 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Eastern Michigan University earn a median of $47,887 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,781 median debt. Eastern Michigan University admits about 80% of applicants.
Grand Valley State University landed the #12 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,502, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $75,777. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Grand Valley State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Central Michigan University placed #13 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $69,862. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Michigan University admits about 90% of applicants.
Michigan State University landed the #14 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $44,850. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $80,259 early in their careers. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Lawrence Technological University placed #15 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Lawrence Technological University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Southfield. Students from in state pay about $44,760 in tuition and fees. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $77,321. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Kettering University landed the #16 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Flint, Kettering University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,425. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $28,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Kettering University generally make around $79,307. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
