2026 Best Value General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[General Polymer & Plastics Engineering](/majors/engineering/polymer-and-plastics-engineering/general-polymer-and-plastics-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 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general polymer & plastics engineering students.
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2026 Best Value General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general polymer & plastics engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools
Leading the list is University Of Southern Mississippi, our #1 best value for general polymer & plastics engineering in the United States. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. Students from in state pay about $9,998 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. General Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general polymer & plastics engineering degree recipients from University Of Southern Mississippi generally make around $52,338. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general polymer & plastics engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, compared with $36,264 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $27,000. General Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of University Of Massachusetts Lowell earn a median of $77,114 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Washington University earned it the #3 place for general polymer & plastics engineering. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,707 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $21,656. Early-career general polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $60,375. That is a strong return on a $21,656 median debt. Western Washington University admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in general polymer & plastics engineering will find it at Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College, which ranked #4. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Erie. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general polymer & plastics engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania College Of Technology is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,940, with out-of-state students paying around $25,680. General Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,875 in student loans. General Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of Pennsylvania College Of Technology earn a median of $71,651 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Other General Polymer & Plastics Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value General Polymer & Plastics Engineering rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.