2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Georgia

[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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Georgia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mechanical engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among mechanical engineering schools in Georgia. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $12,058, while out-of-state students pay about $34,484. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $88,431. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 14% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Georgia one of the best values for mechanical engineering. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $22,814 in student loans. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of Georgia earn a median of $73,872 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,814 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Georgia Southern University earned it the #3 place for mechanical engineering. Set in the town of Statesboro, Georgia Southern University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,022, with out-of-state students paying around $17,734. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,462. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Kennesaw State University one of the best values for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,736. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Kennesaw State University earn a median of $67,158 early in their careers. Set against $27,736 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,565. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $32,463. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $77,368. Set against $32,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mercer University admits about 69% of applicants.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.