[Metallurgical Engineering](/majors/engineering/metallurgical-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong 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 metallurgical engineering students.
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Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in metallurgical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
The University Of Texas At El Paso tops our 2027 list of the best value metallurgical engineering schools in the United States. Set in the city of El Paso, The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,544, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $20,490 in student loans. Metallurgical Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas At El Paso earn a median of $53,478 early in their careers. 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 metallurgical engineering. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, metallurgical engineering degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $80,627. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Missouri University Of Science And Technology admits about 72% of applicants.
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value metallurgical engineering schools. South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Rapid City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,500, compared with $14,900 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,500 to complete the metallurgical engineering program here. Metallurgical Engineering graduates of South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology earn a median of $71,985 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,500 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes The University Of Alabama one of the best values for metallurgical engineering. The University Of Alabama is a very large public school located in the city of Tuscaloosa. Students from in state pay about $12,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,172. Typical student debt for metallurgical engineering graduates is $24,496. Early-career metallurgical engineering graduates make about $50,740. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Alabama admits about 77% of applicants.
Colorado School Of Mines came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value metallurgical engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Golden, Colorado School Of Mines is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,914, with out-of-state students paying around $45,824. Metallurgical Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,269 in student loans. Early-career metallurgical engineering graduates make about $78,984. That is a strong return on a $26,269 median debt. Colorado School Of Mines admits about 61% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Metallurgical Engineering rankings across degree levels:
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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.
