2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region

[Other Engineering](/majors/engineering/other-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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for other engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Other Engineering Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in other engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Other Engineering Schools
Our analysis ranked Missouri University Of Science And Technology the best value for a degree in other engineering in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,984, with out-of-state students paying around $33,248. Other Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,187 in student loans. Other Engineering graduates of Missouri University Of Science And Technology earn a median of $83,207 early in their careers. Set against $25,187 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #2 makes Crowder College one of the best values for other engineering. Set in the town of Neosho, Crowder College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,104 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,784. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $9,887. Other Engineering graduates of Crowder College earn a median of $33,869 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Minnesota Twin Cities one of the best values for other engineering. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for other engineering graduates is $21,577. Early-career other engineering graduates make about $56,395. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #4 place for other engineering. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the other engineering program here. Other Engineering graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. Set against $17,553 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.