2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in the New England Region
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in the New England Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Lowell, our #1 best value for mechanical engineering in the New England Region. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $83,609. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Central Connecticut State University one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of New Britain, Central Connecticut State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,050, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Students borrow a median of $22,534 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Central Connecticut State University generally make around $74,676. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Rhode Island earned it the #3 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Warwick, Community College Of Rhode Island is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $14,834. Students borrow a median of $13,940 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Community College Of Rhode Island earn a median of $39,680 early in their careers. Set against $13,940 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,396. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $11,334. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $119,923. That is a strong return on a $11,334 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vermont Technical College earned it the #5 place for mechanical engineering. Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Randolph. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,952, compared with $22,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,208. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $41,822. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Harvard University earned the #6 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #7 for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $35,731 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,318. That is a strong return on a $35,731 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine came in at #8 for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $69,687. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
University Of Vermont came in at #9 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Burlington, University Of Vermont is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,058, compared with $45,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $26,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Vermont earn a median of $61,626 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #10 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,972. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Rhode Island placed #11 among the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,942, with out-of-state students paying around $37,146. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,500. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $77,343. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University earned the #12 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,250 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #13 for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,612, while out-of-state students pay about $32,567. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth generally make around $71,559. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Boston University landed the #14 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $26,400. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $82,283. That is a strong return on a $26,400 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Connecticut ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $74,869. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus landed the #16 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Durham. Students from in state pay about $19,202 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,852. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from University Of New Hampshire Main Campus generally make around $70,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Norwich University earned the #17 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Northfield, Norwich University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,740. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $21,500. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $48,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Norwich University admits about 74% of applicants.
Olin College placed #18 among the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Needham, Olin College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $63,742. Students borrow a median of $14,512 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Olin College generally make around $87,590. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 25%.
Brown University earned the #19 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $71,312. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,025 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $62,820. That is a strong return on a $13,025 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Western New England University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Western New England University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,820. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,520 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Western New England University generally make around $64,056. That is a strong return on a $25,520 median debt. Western New England University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Bridgeport came in at #21 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Bridgeport, University Of Bridgeport is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,760. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $28,601. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Bridgeport earn a median of $56,368 early in their careers. Set against $28,601 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern University earned the #22 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Northeastern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $66,162 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,893 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $87,760. That is a strong return on a $25,893 median debt. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Hartford earned the #23 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Hartford earn a median of $73,871 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Wentworth Institute Of Technology came in at #24 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Located in the city of Boston, Wentworth Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,884. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Wentworth Institute Of Technology earn a median of $77,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wentworth Institute Of Technology admits about 91% of applicants.
University Of New Haven landed the #25 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $62,534 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s mechanical engineering value ranking:
Narrow Mechanical Engineering Schools by State
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 · 30 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 30 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.
