2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in New Jersey
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value engineering schools.
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2027 Best Value Engineering Schools in New Jersey
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Engineering Schools
Leading the list is Princeton University, our #1 best value for engineering in New Jersey. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $92,758. That is a strong return on a $10,888 median debt. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Middlesex County College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Edison, Middlesex County College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,764, while out-of-state students pay about $7,356. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $37,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Essex County College one of the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Newark, Essex County College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,415, with out-of-state students paying around $9,523. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,472 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Essex County College earn a median of $37,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Raritan Valley Community College earned it the #4 place for engineering. Located in the rural area of Branchburg, Raritan Valley Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,664 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,584. Students borrow a median of $9,668 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Raritan Valley Community College generally make around $47,248. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mercer County Community College earned it the #5 place for engineering. Located in the rural area of West Windsor, Mercer County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,310, while out-of-state students pay about $9,174. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,250 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Mercer County Community College earn a median of $45,389 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hudson County Community College landed the #6 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Jersey City, Hudson County Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,384, while out-of-state students pay about $9,248. Engineering graduates carry a median of $7,000 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $35,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Union County College landed the #7 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the suburb of Cranford, Union County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,280, compared with $9,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,508 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $27,813. That is a strong return on a $8,508 median debt.
Passaic County Community College earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Paterson, Passaic County Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,300, while out-of-state students pay about $10,560. Students borrow a median of $9,581 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Passaic County Community College generally make around $28,957. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
County College Of Morris ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. County College Of Morris is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Randolph. Students from in state pay about $6,210 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,310. Students borrow a median of $9,420 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $30,966. That is a strong return on a $9,420 median debt.
Atlantic Cape Community College came in at #10 for value in engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Mays Landing, Atlantic Cape Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,594, with out-of-state students paying around $8,350. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,002 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Atlantic Cape Community College earn a median of $37,141 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,002 median debt.
Brookdale Community College placed #11 among the best values for engineering. Set in the suburb of Lincroft, Brookdale Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,270 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,140 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,651 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Brookdale Community College generally make around $37,374. That is a strong return on a $12,651 median debt.
Ocean County College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Toms River, Ocean County College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,906, while out-of-state students pay about $6,970. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $13,792. Engineering graduates of Ocean County College earn a median of $41,306 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,792 median debt.
Gloucester County College landed the #13 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the suburb of Sewell, Gloucester County College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,160, compared with $6,000 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $13,236. Early-career engineering graduates make about $38,274. Set against $13,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
New Jersey Institute Of Technology came in at #14 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Newark, New Jersey Institute Of Technology is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,974, with out-of-state students paying around $37,664. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,233 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $78,216. That is a strong return on a $24,233 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus landed the #15 spot for engineering value this year. Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Teaneck. In-state tuition and fees average $37,010. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,770 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $54,505. Set against $24,770 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University came in at #16 for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,574 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,242 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $72,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,242 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #17 spot for engineering value this year. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,441. Students borrow a median of $25,542 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $78,875 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The College Of New Jersey earned the #18 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Ewing, The College Of New Jersey is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,632, while out-of-state students pay about $25,752. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,198 in student loans. Engineering graduates of The College Of New Jersey earn a median of $73,453 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,198 median debt. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #19 for value in engineering this year. Stevens Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoboken. Students from in state pay about $63,462 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,841 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $93,622. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
