2026 Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
[Polymer & Plastics Engineering](/majors/engineering/polymer-and-plastics-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.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value polymer & plastics engineering schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in polymer & plastics engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Polymer & Plastics Engineering Schools
For return on investment in polymer & plastics engineering, no school beat University Of Southern Mississippi this year. Set in the city of Hattiesburg, University Of Southern Mississippi is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,998, while out-of-state students pay about $11,998. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the polymer & plastics engineering program here. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $52,338. That is a strong return on a $25,415 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Lowell earned it the #2 place for polymer & plastics engineering. University Of Massachusetts Lowell is a very large public school located in the suburb of Lowell. Students from in state pay about $16,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $89,021. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in polymer & plastics engineering, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Early-career polymer & plastics engineering graduates make about $53,543. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
Lehigh University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in polymer & plastics engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. In-state tuition and fees average $64,980. Polymer & Plastics Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, polymer & plastics engineering degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Other Polymer & Plastics Engineering Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Polymer & Plastics Engineering rankings across degree levels:
View All Polymer & Plastics Engineering Rankings >
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.
