2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Wisconsin
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
For return on investment in mechanical engineering, no school beat University Of Wisconsin Green Bay this year. Located in the city of Green Bay, University Of Wisconsin Green Bay is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,700, compared with $17,288 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,477 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Green Bay generally make around $42,853. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Milwaukee, University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,398, while out-of-state students pay about $22,398. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee generally make around $70,474. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Wisconsin Platteville, which ranked #3. University Of Wisconsin Platteville is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Platteville. Students from in state pay about $8,644 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,603. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Platteville generally make around $71,612. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $81,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Wisconsin Madison admits about 45% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Wisconsin Stout, which ranked #5. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,260. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Milwaukee School Of Engineering came in at #6 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee School Of Engineering is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $50,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Milwaukee School Of Engineering generally make around $68,976. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Milwaukee School Of Engineering admits about 59% of applicants.
Marquette University landed the #7 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,170. Students borrow a median of $26,602 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $73,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
