[Polymer & Plastics Engineering](/majors/engineering/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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for polymer & plastics engineering students.
Finding the Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering School for You
The right polymer & plastics engineering school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned the #1 spot for value among polymer & plastics engineering schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Lowell, University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the polymer & plastics engineering program here. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $83,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Lowell admits about 83% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in polymer & plastics engineering will find it at University Of Wisconsin Stout, which ranked #2. University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Menomonie. Students from in state pay about $10,701 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $23,850. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of $75,800 early in their careers. Set against $23,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Western Washington University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer & plastics engineering schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Students borrow a median of $21,656 to complete the polymer & plastics engineering program here. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $60,375. Set against $21,656 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value polymer & plastics engineering schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,666 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,195 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Southern Mississippi is a great value for students pursuing a degree in polymer & plastics engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public school located in the city of Hattiesburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,998, compared with $11,998 for out-of-state students. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $52,338. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College came in at #6 for value in polymer & plastics engineering this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Erie Behrend College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Erie. Students from in state pay about $15,972 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,958. Typical student debt for polymer & plastics engineering graduates is $27,000. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $68,438. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools by Region
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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).
[Polymer & Plastics Engineering](/majors/engineering/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.
