[General Metallurgical Engineering](/majors/engineering/metallurgical-engineering/general-metallurgical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general metallurgical engineering education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general metallurgical engineering students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general metallurgical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in general metallurgical engineering, no school beat The University Of Texas At El Paso this year. Located in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Typical student debt for general metallurgical engineering graduates is $20,490. Early-career general metallurgical engineering graduates make about $53,478. Set against $20,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Missouri University Of Science And Technology one of the best values for general metallurgical engineering. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,984, compared with $33,248 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general metallurgical engineering program here. General Metallurgical Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $80,627 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general metallurgical engineering schools. Set in the city of Rapid City, South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,500, with out-of-state students paying around $14,900. General Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general metallurgical engineering degree recipients from South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology generally make around $71,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Alabama one of the best values for general metallurgical engineering. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,180, while out-of-state students pay about $34,172. Typical student debt for general metallurgical engineering graduates is $24,496. General Metallurgical Engineering graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of $50,740 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Colorado School Of Mines is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general metallurgical engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Golden. Students from in state pay about $21,914 in tuition and fees, compared with $45,824 for out-of-state students. General Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,269 in student loans. General Metallurgical Engineering graduates of Colorado School Of Mines earn a median of $78,984 early in their careers. Set against $26,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Metallurgical Engineering rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
