2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Carolina
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for mechanical engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in South Carolina
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
Francis Marion University tops our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools in South Carolina. Francis Marion University is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Florence. In-state tuition and fees average $11,170, while out-of-state students pay about $21,544. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $30,577. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Francis Marion University generally make around $41,456. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Francis Marion University admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Aiken earned it the #2 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Aiken, University Of South Carolina Aiken is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,760, compared with $21,218 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,011 to complete the mechanical engineering program here. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $42,220. Set against $27,011 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Citadel Military College Of South Carolina earned it the #3 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,508 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $19,500. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $52,602. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 23%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Clemson University earned it the #4 place for mechanical engineering. Located in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,554 in tuition and fees, compared with $40,866 for out-of-state students. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,125 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mechanical engineering degree recipients from Clemson University generally make around $76,932. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #5 place for mechanical engineering. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $25,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of University Of South Carolina Columbia earn a median of $72,370 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.
