2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 169 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
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 Princeton University this year. Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Princeton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $85,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,131 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $85,272 early in their careers. Set against $18,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Fullerton came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,470 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,070. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $19,040. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $98,565. That is a strong return on a $19,040 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Northridge came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,458, while out-of-state students pay about $20,058. Students borrow a median of $18,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $71,359 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $17,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $108,892. That is a strong return on a $17,000 median debt. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
California State Polytechnic University Pomona earned the #6 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. California State Polytechnic University Pomona is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pomona. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,781, with out-of-state students paying around $20,381. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,455 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of California State Polytechnic University Pomona earn a median of $75,040 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California San Diego came in at #7 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $112,996. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. University Of California San Diego admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Dearborn placed #8 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,640, while out-of-state students pay about $32,896. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,950 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Dearborn generally make around $105,227. Set against $23,950 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Dearborn admits about 56% of applicants.
Oakland University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Oakland University generally make around $105,451. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Cuny City College landed the #10 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Cuny City College is a large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,340, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $13,232. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Cuny City College generally make around $65,905. That is a strong return on a $13,232 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
California State University Long Beach came in at #11 for value in mechanical engineering this year. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,374, with out-of-state students paying around $19,974. Students borrow a median of $17,653 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $78,650. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 46% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #12 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,058, with out-of-state students paying around $34,484. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $97,999 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Atlantic University earned the #13 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,025 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida Atlantic University earn a median of $68,451 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Florida earned the #14 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $22,025. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $85,029 early in their careers. Set against $22,025 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Purdue University Northwest placed #15 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, with out-of-state students paying around $15,504. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $68,632. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Berkeley placed #16 among the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of California Berkeley is a very large public school located in the city of Berkeley. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,200 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $97,864. That is a strong return on a $13,200 median debt. The acceptance rate is 11%.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned the #17 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $21,750. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $93,716. Set against $21,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 16%.
Stanford University came in at #18 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Stanford University generally make around $121,408. Set against $10,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Chicago placed #19 among the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $69,871 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Florida International University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,750 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $71,335. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida International University admits about 55% of applicants.
California State University Sacramento earned the #21 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,018, compared with $20,618 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,399 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $84,560 early in their careers. Set against $19,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #22 for value in mechanical engineering this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $85,161. That is a strong return on a $15,500 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of South Florida Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Tampa. In-state tuition and fees average $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $23,783. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $70,046. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,085 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $89,017. That is a strong return on a $24,085 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology landed the #25 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology is a small public school located in the town of Socorro. Students from in state pay about $9,476 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,247 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology generally make around $92,541. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology admits about 44% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for mechanical engineering this year:
Other Mechanical Engineering Degree Levels
Explore the best-value mechanical engineering schools at other degree levels:
View All Mechanical Engineering Rankings >
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 · 169 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 169 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.
