by our College Data Analytics Team
[Engineering](/majors/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 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 105 schools to find the best return on investment for engineering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Henry Ford Community College, our #1 best value for engineering in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the city of Dearborn, Henry Ford Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,568, with out-of-state students paying around $7,816. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,813 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $36,247. That is a strong return on a $11,813 median debt.
Moraine Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,822 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,846. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,149 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College generally make around $43,844. Set against $11,149 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Washtenaw Community College, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,736, with out-of-state students paying around $6,504. Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Washtenaw Community College generally make around $45,332. That is a strong return on a $17,616 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, which ranked #4. Kalamazoo Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Kalamazoo. In-state tuition and fees average $4,144, compared with $9,094 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $44,198. Set against $15,525 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lorain County Community College earned it the #5 place for engineering. Set in the suburb of Elyria, Lorain County Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,265, compared with $8,860 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $17,611 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Lorain County Community College generally make around $40,095. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rock Valley College earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Rockford, Rock Valley College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,334 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,379. Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Rock Valley College generally make around $41,080. Set against $9,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of Dupage earned the #7 position for value in engineering this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,500. Early-career engineering graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $10,500 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Wilbur Wright College generally make around $33,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mchenry County College landed the #9 spot for engineering value this year. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,440 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $24,177. Set against $7,440 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Sinclair Community College earned the #10 position for value in engineering this year. Sinclair Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Dayton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,675, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,192 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $35,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Oakland Community College placed #11 among the best values for engineering. Oakland Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Auburn Hills. Students from in state pay about $3,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,560 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,865 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Oakland Community College generally make around $43,205. That is a strong return on a $15,865 median debt.
College Of Lake County placed #12 among the best values for engineering. Located in the suburb of Grayslake, College Of Lake County is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,788, while out-of-state students pay about $14,400. Students borrow a median of $9,785 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of College Of Lake County earn a median of $50,314 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,785 median debt.
Ivy Tech Community College landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,154, with out-of-state students paying around $9,935. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,889 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,734. Set against $11,889 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Purdue University Northwest came in at #14 for value in engineering this year. Purdue University Northwest is a large public school located in the suburb of Hammond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,357, while out-of-state students pay about $15,504. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,656. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Purdue University Northwest generally make around $74,038. That is a strong return on a $27,656 median debt. Purdue University Northwest admits about 72% of applicants.
Elgin Community College landed the #15 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Elgin, Elgin Community College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College landed the #16 spot for engineering value this year. Stark State College is a large public school located in the suburb of North Canton. In-state tuition and fees average $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Students borrow a median of $17,349 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Stark State College earn a median of $42,724 early in their careers. Set against $17,349 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Michigan Dearborn earned the #17 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,640, compared with $32,896 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,819 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of University Of Michigan Dearborn earn a median of $88,878 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Oakland University landed the #18 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $17,167 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $26,140. Engineering graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $89,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,140 median debt. Oakland University admits about 88% of applicants.
City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,533 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Harold Washington College generally make around $33,960. That is a strong return on a $11,533 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $7,500. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Indiana State University earned the #21 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,258, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,582 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Indiana State University generally make around $53,952. Set against $25,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,654 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $101,812. That is a strong return on a $19,654 median debt. The acceptance rate is 16%.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $23,586 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $75,067. Set against $23,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Parkland College landed the #24 spot for engineering value this year. Parkland College is a large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, while out-of-state students pay about $13,266. Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $40,409. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
Jackson Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the rural area of Jackson, Jackson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,350, compared with $10,200 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,960 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Jackson Community College generally make around $41,322. Set against $16,960 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s engineering value ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 105 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 105 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.