2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Florida
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mechanical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
University Of Florida tops our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools in Florida. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,131 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $84,811 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $22,025 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,451. That is a strong return on a $22,025 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
A rank of #3 makes Florida International University one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Set in the suburb of Miami, Florida International University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,565, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $19,750. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida International University earn a median of $71,335 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of West Florida came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $18,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $58,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Florida Main Campus earned it the #5 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $70,046. That is a strong return on a $23,783 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
University Of Central Florida came in at #6 for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,025 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Central Florida earn a median of $75,664 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,025 median debt. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants.
University Of North Florida earned the #7 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. University Of North Florida is a large public school located in the city of Jacksonville. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $18,039. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $66,743. That is a strong return on a $18,039 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Florida State University earned the #8 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,085. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida State University earn a median of $75,519 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,085 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Florida Polytechnic University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Lakeland, Florida Polytechnic University is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $4,940 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida Polytechnic University earn a median of $62,595 early in their careers. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University landed the #10 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tallahassee, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,785 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,725. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,824 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University earn a median of $38,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,824 median debt. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University admits about 21% of applicants.
Florida Institute Of Technology landed the #11 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. Located in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology earn a median of $69,533 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Miami landed the #12 spot for mechanical engineering value this year. University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Coral Gables. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $66,843. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach earned the #13 position for value in mechanical engineering this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. Students from in state pay about $44,074 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach generally make around $73,433. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
