2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Montana
[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.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mechanical engineering schools.
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2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Montana
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 Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana, our #1 best value for mechanical engineering in Montana. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana is a small public school located in the town of Butte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,289, with out-of-state students paying around $26,094. Students borrow a median of $25,750 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $73,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Montana Tech Of The University Of Montana admits about 91% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Montana State University one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Bozeman, Montana State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,011. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $68,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,011 median debt. Montana State University admits about 82% of applicants.
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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 · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
