2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Arkansas

[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Arkansas
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 Arkansas State University Main Campus this year. Set in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,399 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Arkansas State University Main Campus earn a median of $74,284 early in their careers. Set against $23,399 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mechanical engineering will find it at Arkansas Tech University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, compared with $14,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,970 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $68,765. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public school located in the city of Little Rock. In-state tuition and fees average $9,911, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,093. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Arkansas At Little Rock earn a median of $47,170 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas At Little Rock admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Students borrow a median of $23,014 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $71,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
A rank of #5 makes John Brown University one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the town of Siloam Springs, John Brown University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,756. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,216 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from John Brown University generally make around $50,420. That is a strong return on a $25,216 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Harding University came in at #6 for value in mechanical engineering this year. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $53,229. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
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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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.