2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Arizona
[Mechanical Engineering](/majors/engineering/me-mechanical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mechanical engineering students.
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2027 Best Value Mechanical Engineering Schools in Arizona
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 Northern Arizona University this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $24,409. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $63,252 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,409 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Arizona State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $81,429. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mechanical engineering schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Mechanical Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,391 in student loans. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $75,211. That is a strong return on a $23,391 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Grand Canyon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career mechanical engineering graduates make about $68,391. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earned it the #5 place for mechanical engineering. Set in the city of Prescott, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,974. Typical student debt for mechanical engineering graduates is $27,000. Mechanical Engineering graduates of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott earn a median of $73,433 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
More Mechanical Engineering Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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.
