by our College Data Analytics Team
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 51 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.
South Texas College tops our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools in Texas. Located in the city of McAllen, South Texas College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,920, while out-of-state students pay about $7,620. Engineering graduates carry a median of $6,868 in student loans. Engineering graduates of South Texas College earn a median of $30,227 early in their careers. Set against $6,868 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at El Paso Community College earned it the #2 place for engineering. Set in the city of El Paso, El Paso Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,274, with out-of-state students paying around $5,314. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,542 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $29,086. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Amarillo College earned it the #3 place for engineering. Located in the city of Amarillo, Amarillo College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,136 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,704. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,720. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Amarillo College generally make around $41,053. That is a strong return on a $15,720 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tarrant County College District earned it the #4 place for engineering. Set in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,863 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,148 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. That is a strong return on a $15,148 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Texas A And M International University one of the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,454 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,243 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $49,755. That is a strong return on a $10,243 median debt. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
Austin Community College District earned the #6 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,590 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $15,375 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $43,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Houston Community College came in at #7 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,040 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,460. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $17,814. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Houston Community College generally make around $61,518. That is a strong return on a $17,814 median debt.
The University Of Texas Pan American earned the #8 position for value in engineering this year. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Engineering graduates carry a median of $14,150 in student loans. Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Pan American earn a median of $52,819 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Mclennan Community College earned the #9 position for value in engineering this year. Mclennan Community College is a large public school located in the city of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,598 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,598 median debt.
Odessa College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the city of Odessa, Odessa College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,688, compared with $4,926 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,087 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $47,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lamar University landed the #11 spot for engineering value this year. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Engineering graduates carry a median of $19,464 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $82,618. Set against $19,464 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Paris Junior College placed #12 among the best values for engineering. Located in the town of Paris, Paris Junior College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,700, with out-of-state students paying around $5,700. Engineering graduates carry a median of $8,846 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Paris Junior College generally make around $38,811. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Texas College earned the #13 position for value in engineering this year. Central Texas College is a large public school located in the suburb of Killeen. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,750, with out-of-state students paying around $7,500. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The University Of Texas At El Paso landed the #14 spot for engineering value this year. The University Of Texas At El Paso is a very large public school located in the city of El Paso. Students from in state pay about $9,544 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,502. Students borrow a median of $17,045 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $70,515. That is a strong return on a $17,045 median debt. The University Of Texas At El Paso admits about 100% of applicants.
Tyler Junior College earned the #15 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Students borrow a median of $14,869 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Blinn College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the town of Brenham, Blinn College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,890 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,370. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $16,465. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Blinn College generally make around $43,408. That is a strong return on a $16,465 median debt.
Lone Star College System earned the #17 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of The Woodlands, Lone Star College System is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,664 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,512. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $15,848. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Lone Star College System generally make around $39,954. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rice University placed #18 among the best values for engineering. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,247. Students borrow a median of $13,398 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $88,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
San Jacinto Community College placed #19 among the best values for engineering. Located in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans. Engineering graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The University Of Texas At San Antonio placed #20 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of San Antonio, The University Of Texas At San Antonio is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,249. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $27,458. Early-career engineering graduates make about $72,466. Set against $27,458 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin came in at #21 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Odessa, The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,607, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Students borrow a median of $21,625 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin earn a median of $64,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Of The Permian Basin admits about 95% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Kingsville earned the #22 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the town of Kingsville, Texas A And M University Kingsville is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,892, with out-of-state students paying around $25,746. Students borrow a median of $25,201 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Kingsville earn a median of $66,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,201 median debt. Texas A And M University Kingsville admits about 91% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Tyler landed the #23 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,512, with out-of-state students paying around $24,512. Engineering graduates carry a median of $23,446 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $70,978. Set against $23,446 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Midwestern State University came in at #24 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,950, compared with $11,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Midwestern State University generally make around $56,371. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midwestern State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #25 among the best values for engineering. Set in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,026, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $23,796. Engineering graduates of Texas A And M University Commerce earn a median of $66,996 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,796 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in engineering:
This list is compiled 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 51 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.